title: Narcotic-only Epidural Infusion for Posterior Spinal Fusion Patients: A Single-Center, Retrospective Review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adequate and safe postoperative analgesia for patients with idiopathic scoliosis undergoing posterior spinal fusion (PSF) remains challenging and controversial. A past adverse event in this patient population triggered a change of our institution's practice from epidurals containing bupivacaine and has resulted in use of epidurals containing solely narcotic (hydromorphone) for postoperative analgesia. This retrospective review looks at our experiences with hydromorphone patient-controlled epidural analgesia for postoperative analgesia in this patient population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Electronic medical records of all children with a diagnosis of idiopathic scoliosis who underwent PSF surgery at our institution during the period of January 2011 to October 2011 were reviewed from the time they entered the PACU through the first 72 hours following PACU discharge. Specifically, the charts were reviewed for pain scores, sedation scores, narcotic use, use of adjuvant medications, antiemetics, antipruritics, hours to first ambulation, hours to first oral intake, respiratory rate, SpO2 values, need for any respiratory interventions, length of stay, and any adverse events.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-six patients were enrolled. Three patients had their epidurals removed within the first 24 hours (5.4% failure rate). Highest mean pain scores ranged from 5.6±2.3 to 5.8±2.2 with median pain scores ranging from 4 to 6. There were no respiratory or neurological adverse events. Ambulation occurred on either postoperative day 1 or 2. The incidence of vomiting in this study was 34% in the first 24 hours post-PACU discharge and during this period, 61% of patients received ondansetron, for either nausea or pruritus. The mean length of stay for our patients was 3.95 days, with a median of 4 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This retrospective review suggests that hydromorphone epidurals used for pain control in postoperative PSF patients are a reasonable alternative to IV-PCA, in terms of analgesia, side-effect profile, and length of stay.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level III-retrospective study.
authors.affiliation: Departments of *Anesthesiology †Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gauger
authors.forename: Michelle S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Caird
authors.forename: Constance
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Burke
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015360:Analgesia, Epidural / Q000379:methods*; D016058:Analgesia, Patient-Controlled / Q000379:methods*; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004091:Hydromorphone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D004091:Hydromorphone