The goal of this observational ambispective study is to compare the effectiveness of two pain management strategies in pediatric patients undergoing the Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does the addition of phrenic Infiltration as Cryo Adjuvant (PhICA) to earlier percutaneous intercostal cryoanalgesia (EPIC) reduce postoperative pain scores compared to EPIC alone? Does the combined EPIC + PhICA technique reduce the need for rescue tramadol compared to EPIC alone? Do the two approaches differ in: length of hospital stay, time to transition to oral therapy, and time to mobilization? Are there any side effects Researchers will compare patients who received EPIC alone to patients who received EPIC + PhICA to see if the combined technique provides superior pain control. Participants: Received either EPIC alone or EPIC combined with PhICA as part of their surgical anesthesia plan Had pain levels assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) at regular postoperative intervals Were monitored for rescue tramadol requirements, medicaments taken, length of hospital stay, and mobilization timing Were monitored for any technique-related complication
This is a retrospective-prospective (ambispective) study as it compares a control group (EPIC) retrospectively reviewed with a prospectively recruited case group of patients (PhICA)
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
38
Sc Ricerca Clinica, Sviluppo E Innovazione
Bergamo, BG, Italy
Postoperative pain
NRS scores of patients collected in the medical charts after surgery AND opioids consumption. For each patient, the median and the maximum pain score for each period of the day \[morning (5:01-13:00) afternoon (13:01-21:00) and night (21:01-05:00)\] will be computed and used as pain descriptors for statistical analyses. Opioids will be translated in morphine equivalents through validated tables.
Time frame: From surgery (Day 0) through hospital discharge, up to 7 days postoperatively.
Time to mobilization after surgery
We are going to record for analysis the postoperative day (POD) in which all the following activities of daily living items were simultaneously achieved: ambulating, feeding, and toileting.
Time frame: From surgery (Day 0) through hospital discharge, up to 7 days postoperatively.
Length of hospital stay
measuring the length of hospital stay by days
Time frame: From surgery (Day 0) through hospital discharge, up to 7 days postoperatively.
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