Key result
Opioid free general anesthesia is a multimodal technique that satisfactorily controls postoperative pain and minimizes opioid-related side effects, though large randomized multicenter trials are lacking.
Why the study?
Opioid-free general anesthesia has shown perioperative benefits and potential utility within enhanced recovery after surgery protocols, but further evaluation of the technique is needed.
Does opioid-free general anesthesia improve postoperative recovery and reduce side effects compared to opioid-based anesthesia in surgical patients?
Does opioid-free general anesthesia improve postoperative recovery and reduce side effects compared to opioid-based anesthesia in surgical patients?
Opioid-free general anesthesia is a promising multimodal technique that may reduce postoperative complications and enhance recovery, particularly in specific indications like bariatric surgery and OSAS.
May support opioid-free anesthesia to minimize side effects; leaves open confirmation by large multicenter RCTs.
Currently, enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols are multimodal perioperative care pathways with the goal to achieve early patient recovery after surgery with minimal postoperative complications. According to studies, opioid free general anesthesia has many perioperative benefits and should be part of the ERAS protocols in specific surgical and patient indications. Opioid free general anesthesia is a multimodal balanced technique that is based on the concept that opioids are not used preoperatively or intraoperatively until the patient has aroused. The basic concept of opioid free general anesthesia is intravenous administration of several nonopioid drugs that operate at different pharmacological sites blocking surgical stress and sympathetic activation response. Moreover, current studies have shown that opioid free anesthesia is a technique which satisfactorily controls postoperative pain as the fifth vital sign, and has minimal side effects and better patient recovery with the same surgical conditions as general multimodal balanced anesthesia. However, further research is needed.
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Sanja Sakan (2023) conducted a review in Surgical patients requiring general anesthesia. Opioid free general anesthesia vs. Opioid-based general anesthesia was evaluated. Opioid free general anesthesia is a multimodal technique that satisfactorily controls postoperative pain and minimizes opioid-related side effects, though large randomized multicenter trials are lacking.
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