Intrawound Liposomal Bupivacaine in Pediatric Chiari Decompression: A Retrospective Study

Introduction: Intrawound liposomal bupivacaine is a long-acting local anesthetic used to decrease postoperative pain in various procedures. Although it is used in posterior cervical and suboccipital approaches in the adult population, it is currently off-label for pediatrics. This quality improvement (QI) project examines intrawound liposomal bupivacaine for pediatric Chiari decompression and evaluates its role in postoperative opioid consumption. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed all patients 0-18 years old of age who underwent Chiari decompression from January 2017 to July 2019 at our tertiary care hospital. Demographic and clinical data regarding postoperative opioid use, subjective and objective pain control, length of stay, discharge medications, and comorbid conditions were collected. Results: We included 30 patients in this study: 19 females and 11 males. Of these, 6 received an intrawound injection of liposomal bupivacaine. Patients treated with liposomal bupivacaine require fewer opioids while admitted. There was no apparent difference in pain control immediately postoperatively, pain control at clinical follow-up, or inpatient length of stay between each group. Patients who received liposomal bupivacaine did not require opioid analgesics at the time of discharge from the hospital. Conclusion: The use of intrawound liposomal bupivacaine may decrease inpatient and outpatient postoperative opioid consumption amongst pediatric patients following Chiari decompression while providing adequate pain control. We investigate liposomal bupivacaine perioperative blockade in this QI project as a viable option for opioid-sparing pain control in the postoperative setting for the pediatric population. Future investigation via clinical trials and more extensive prospective studies may glean further insights into efficacy.