Comparison of multimodal analgesia including intermediate cervical plexus block versus local infiltration analgesia after carotid endarterectomy: a randomized observer-blinded trial.

backgroundEffective perioperative analgesia is essential to prevent abrupt changes in cerebral blood flow following carotid endarterectomy (CEA). We aimed to evaluate whether multimodal analgesia, including intermediate cervical plexus block (CPB), reduces 24 h postoperative opioid consumption compared with local infiltration.

methodsThis randomized, observer-blinded study included 40 patients undergoing CEA. Patients were randomly allocated to either the multimodal group (multimodal analgesia with intermediate CPB, n = 20) or the control group (local infiltration, n = 20). The primary outcome was 24 h intravenous (IV) opioid conversion to IV morphine equivalents. Secondary outcomes included pain scores at rest and during motion, time to first opioid use, hypertension incidence, antihypertensive use, postoperative nausea/vomiting, satisfaction with pain management, quality of first-night sleep, Korean version of the Quality of Recovery-15 (QoR-15K) scores, complications, cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome, and intraoperative analgesia nociception index values.

resultsIn the intention-to-treat analysis, 24 h postoperative opioid consumption was 13.3 (6.7, 20.0) mg and 10.0 (6.7, 13.3) mg in the control and multimodal groups, respectively, with no significant difference (P = 0.191). The multimodal group had significantly lower immediate postoperative pain at rest (P < 0.001) and during movement (P < 0.001), as well as longer time to first opioid use (P = 0.047) and higher QoR-15K scores (P = 0.004). No significant differences were observed in the other parameters.

conclusionsMultimodal analgesia with intermediate CPB did not reduce 24 h opioid consumption after CEA. However, it was associated with better early postoperative pain control and recovery scores.