Spinal surgeries are generally associated with intense pain in the postoperative period, especially for the initial few days. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of intraoperative intravenous acetaminophen in spine surgery on postoperative analgesic requirements, pain scores, patient satisfaction, and clinical recovery. Enrolled patients are randomized to receive either intravenous acetaminophen or placebo at the time of surgical closure. It is hypothesized that patients receiving intravenous acetaminophen will have improved pain scores, require less opiate medication, and have better patient satisfaction than those receiving placebo.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
60
Patients will received 1000mg of intravenous acetaminophen within 30 minutes of skin closure.
Patients will received 1000mg of normal saline within 30 minutes of skin closure.
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Worst pain score in the post-anesthesia care unit
The primary outcome will assess worst pain score at the time the patient is ready for post anesthesia care unit discharge using the Revised American Pain Society Patient Outcome Questionnaire. This scale ranges from 0 to 10, with higher values reporting more pain.
Time frame: Time of postoperative care unit discharge readiness, approximately 3 hours
Postoperative pain scores
Pain scores will be collected for the first 72 hours or up until discharge, whichever comes first, using clinically documented nursing pain scores. Values will be collected on a scale from 0 to 10 with higher values indicating increased (worst) pain.
Time frame: Postoperatively until 72 hours or discharge, approximately three days
Intraoperative opioid consumption
Total cumulative morphine equivalents will be reported while the patient is in the operating room.
Time frame: Intraoperatively
Postoperative opioid consumption in the post anesthesia care unit
Total cumulative morphine equivalents will be reported while the patient is in the post anesthesia care unit.
Time frame: Postoperatively until time of PACU discharge, approximately 3 hours.
Postoperative opioid consumption after discharge from the postoperative care
Total cumulative morphine equivalents will be reported starting from the time the patient is discharged from the post anesthesia care unit until they are discharged from the hospital.
Time frame: Time of discharge from the postoperative care unit until discharge from the hospital, an average of two days
Time to rescue analgesia
The time to rescue analgesia (in minutes) will be assessed.
Time frame: Postoperatively until discharge, an average of two days
Patient satisfaction
Satisfaction with the patient's pain treatment in the hospital will be assessed at the time the patient is ready for discharge from the post anesthesia care unit using the Revised American Pain Society Patient Outcome Questionnaire. This scale ranges from 0 (extremely dissatisfied) to 10 (extremely satisfied).
Time frame: Time of postoperative care unit discharge readiness, approximately 3 hours.
Length of hospital stay
Length of hospital stay (in days) will be reported.
Time frame: Postoperatively until discharge, an average of two days
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