Intraoperative Factors Affecting Pain Management and Postoperative Narcotic Use in Cranial Vault Remodeling: A Retrospective Review

Perioperative pain control in open cranial vault reconstruction (CVR) poses significant challenges. Narcotic use may confound signs of neurological deterioration and cause medication-induced complications. Previous studies have shown improved health outcomes in CVR with reduced narcotic use. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between modifiable intraoperative factors on postoperative narcotic use. A retrospective cohort study was performed on 237 patients with craniosynostosis who presented to a tertiary pediatric hospital over a 10-year period for open CVR. There was a statistically significant relationship between total fluid volume infused intraoperatively (mL/kg) and total morphine equivalents (MEs, mL/kg) given throughout hospitalization (P< 0.001). Longer operative times were associated with greater total hospitalization ME (P≤ 0.006) and total intraoperative blood products transfused (P≤ 0.001). Patients who received drains were given significantly higher total hospitalization ME compared with those who did not (P< 0.001). Patients who received postoperative nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs required significantly fewer total ME compared with children who did not (P< 0.005) and patients who received intraoperative tranexamic acid were less likely to require postoperative blood transfusion (P< 0.001). Postoperative nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use is associated with decreased narcotic requirements during the immediate postoperative period whereas increased fluid requirements intraoperatively, longer operative durations, and drain placement are associated with higher narcotic use. Modifying intraoperative factors like these may lead to decreased postoperative pain, thus limiting narcotic use for patients, and improving overall outcomes.