Cranio-Maxillofacial Reconstruction with Microvascular Radialis Flaps—Parameters and Correlations of Postoperative Pain Management

Authors

Gregor F. Raschke, Friedrich Schiller University of JenaFollow
Winfried Meissner, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena
Andre Peisker, Friedrich Schiller University of JenaFollow
Gabriel Djedovic, Goethe University
Ulrich M. Rieger, Goethe University
Arndt Guentsch, Marquette UniversityFollow
Daria Porwit, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena
Marta Gomez-Dammeier, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena
Stefan Schultze-Mosgau, Friedrich Schiller University of JenaFollow

Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Format of Original

8 p.

Publication Date

1-2017

Publisher

Elsevier

Source Publication

Clinical Oral Investigations

Source ISSN

1432-6981

Abstract

Objectives

Postoperative pain management is of highest interest for patients undergoing maxillofacial surgery including microvascular reconstructive surgery. Currently, there is a lack of information regarding process and outcome of postoperative pain management after microvascular reconstruction.

Materials and methods

In a prospective clinical study, 31 adults were evaluated on the first postoperative day following microvascular reconstruction with a radial forearm flap using the standardized questionnaire of the Germany-wide project Quality Improvement in Postoperative Pain Management (QUIPS). It enables a standardized assessment of patients’ characteristics, pain parameters, outcome and pain therapy process parameters.

Results

Pain management consisted predominately of premedication with midazolam, sufentanil and metamizol intraoperatively, piritramid in the intensive care unit and metamizol, tramadol and fentanyl patches on ward. Nineteen patients (61.3 %) showed inadequate pain management with pain levels ≥4. Among other significant relations, patients exhibiting an age below the median presented significant higher levels of pain under strain (p = .041) and maximum pain (p = .006) as well as rate of breathing (p = .009) and mood (p = .006) disturbance. Performance of pain counselling showed specific impact on pain under strain (p = .008), maximum pain (p = .004) and satisfaction with pain intensity (p = .001). Whether microvascular reconstruction was performed with primary or secondary intention or performance of a neck dissection did not show significant influence.

Conclusions

QUIPS helped us to adequately evaluate the procedure-specific quality of postoperative management following microvascular reconstruction with a radial forearm flap. It helped us to identify a surprisingly high amount of inadequate pain management. Postoperative pain levels seem to be primarily influenced by the performed reconstruction.

Clinical relevance

Establishment of a continuous and procedure-specific evaluation of postoperative pain levels should help to avoid inadequate pain management, which is widely prevalent according to the literature and our study. Preoperative pain counselling is essential and should be procedure specific to be its best.

Comments

Accepted version. Clinical Oral Investigations, Vol. 21, No. 1 (January 2017): 429-436. DOI. © 2017 Elsevier. Used with permission.

Recommended Citation

Raschke, Gregor F.; Meissner, Winfried; Peisker, Andre; Djedovic, Gabriel; Rieger, Ulrich M.; Guentsch, Arndt; Porwit, Daria; Gomez-Dammeier, Marta; and Schultze-Mosgau, Stefan, "Cranio-Maxillofacial Reconstruction with Microvascular Radialis Flaps—Parameters and Correlations of Postoperative Pain Management" (2017). School of Dentistry Faculty Research and Publications. 208.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/dentistry_fac/208