The Effects of Perioperative Peripheral Nerve Blocks on Peri- and Postoperative Opioid Use and Pain Management

Introduction The amount of peri- and post-operative use of opioids for pain management, and the duration in which they are used following surgery, are positively associated with the likelihood of subsequent opioid use and addiction. Aware of this issue, many clinicians are seeking ways to reduce opioid use while maintaining adequate pain management. Recent evidence suggests that peripheral nerve block utilization may present a viable mechanism by which clinicians can accomplish this goal. Methods Ovid MEDLINE and Pubmed databases were searched to identify relevant articles. Using the advanced search option, the key terms “opioid,” “morphine,” “nerve block,” “peripheral anesthesia,” “pain management,” “preoperative,”, “intraoperative,” and “postoperative” were used and combined with the Boolean terms “AND” and “OR.” This review examines the extant literature surrounding the use of peripheral nerve blocks in relation to patient-reported pain scores, intraoperative opioids, postoperative opioids, patient-controlled analgesic with opioids, and opioid consumption once the patient has left the hospital. Further, the effect peripheral nerve blocks have on postoperative physical therapy, surgery related complications, and overall patient satisfaction are briefly discussed. Results The use of perioperative peripheral nerve blocks decreases opioid consumption not only in the postoperative period, but also intraoperatively as well. The most significant decrease in opioid consumption is seen in the first 24-72 hours postoperatively. Patient reported pain scores were also lower in patients who received peripheral nerve blocks. Discussion Despite relatively robust efficacy data, utilization of peripheral nerve blocks is not ubiquitous; the potential reasons for which are also discussed. Lastly, clinical recommendations based on the available data are provided.