Prospective, Randomized and Controlled Trial on Ketamine infusion during Bilateral Axillo-Breast Approach (BABA) Robotic or Endoscopic Thyroidectomy : Effects on postoperative pain and recovery profiles

Abstract

Background Robotic or endoscopic thyroidectomy using bilateral axillo-breast approach(BABA) is frequently performed for excellent cosmesis. However, postoperative pain is remained as concerns due to the extent tissue dissection and tension during the operation. Ketamine is a non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist that reduces acute postoperative pain. We evaluated the effects of intraoperative ketamine infusion on postoperative pain control and recovery profiles following BABA robotic or endoscopic thyroidectomy.

Methods Fifty-eight adult patients scheduled for BABA robotic or endoscopic thyroidectomy were randomized into a control group (n = 29) and ketamine group (n o= 29). Following induction of anesthesia, patients in each group were infused with the same volume of saline or ketamine solution (1 mg/kg bolus, 60 μg/kg/h continuous infusion). Total intravenous anesthesia with propofol and remifentanil was used to induce and maintain anesthesia. Painscores (101-point numerical rating scale, 0 = no pain, 100 = the worst imaginable pain), the consumption of rescue analgesics, and other postoperative adverse effects were assessed at 1 h, 6 h, 24 h, and 48 h postoperatively.

Results Patients in the ketamine group reported lower pain scores than those in the control group at 6 h (30 [30] vs. 50 [30]

P = 0.017), 24 h (20 [10] vs. 30 [20]

P < 0.001), and 48 h(10 [10] vs. 20 [15]

P < 0.001) in neck area. No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in terms of the requirements for rescue analgesics or the occurrence of adverse events.

Conclusion Intravenous ketamine infusion during anesthesia resulted in lower postoperative pain scores following BABA robotic or endoscopic thyroidectomy, with no increase in adverse events.