CVIA Journal

Announcing a new article publication for Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications journal. Mounting evidence indicates that opioid-sparing anesthesia (OSA) decreases opioid-related adverse events. This article examines whether OSA might improve initial recovery after cardiac surgery.

Data from patients who underwent elective heart surgery between July 2023 and July 2024 were analyzed. Eligible patients were divided into an OSA group or a control group. Patients in the OSA group received 0.5 to 1 μg·kg⁻¹ sufentanil and ultrasound-guided nerve block after anesthetic induction, whereas patients in the control group received traditional high-dose opioid management. Patients in both groups were managed with the same sedatives, muscle relaxants, and other drugs. The main outcome was the overall 15-item Quality of Recovery (QoR-15) survey score 24 hours after surgery. (more…)