Acceptable effect of multimodal analgesic treatment after a Bascom cleft lift operation.

INTRODUCTION Information on multimodal analgesic efficacy in patients undergoing a Bascom cleft lift operation is limited. The aim of this prospective consecutive study was to evaluate early post-operative pain in patients receiving a standardised multimodal analgesic regimen. METHODS A total of 48 patients undergoing a Bascom cleft lift operation were included over an 8-month period in a day-case set-up. The operation was performed under saddle block. In addition, patients received a standardised multi-modal analgesic regimen consisting of gabapentin, ketorolac, dexamethasone, acetaminophen (paracetamol) and ibuprofen. The intensity of pain was registered preoperatively and at 2, 24, 48 h, and 30 days post-operatively. Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, ability to void, morphine consumption and post-anaesthesia care unit (PACU) time were registered. RESULTS Thirty patients were available for analysis. Post-operative visual analogue scale pain scores were low (at 2, 24, and 48 h (median values: 0 (range: 0-40), 25 (0-70), and 30 (0-60), respectively), but changed significantly over time (p < 0.001). The median overall morphine consumption was 0 (range: 0-30). None of the patients experienced vomiting or dizziness. Only two patients reported mild nausea during the stay in the PACU. CONCLUSION This study suggests that the Bascom cleft lift operation is feasible with minimal post-operative pain when using a multimodal analgesic regimen together with saddle block. FUNDING not relevant. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02196727. Regional Ethics Committee Reg. no.: H-3-2013-073. Danish Data Protection Agency Reg. no.: HVH-2013-031, with I-Suite no.: 02408.