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Exparel for Postoperative Pain Management: a Comprehensive Review

  • Other Pain (N Vadivelu and AD Kaye, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Pain and Headache Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Multimodal pain management is the most effective way to treat postsurgical pain. However, the use of opioids for acute pain management has unfortunately been a significant contributor to the current opioid epidemic. The use of opioids should be limited and only considered a “rescue” pain medication after other modalities of pain management have been utilized.

Recent Findings

It may be difficult to curtail the use of opioids in the treatment of chronic pain; however, in the postsurgical setting, there is compelling evidence that an opioid-centric analgesic approach is not necessary for good patient outcomes and healthcare cost benefits. Opioid-related adverse effects are the leading cause of preventable harm in the hospital setting. After the realization in recent years of the many harmful effects of opioids, alternative regimens including the use of multimodal analgesia have become a standard practice in acute pain management. Exparel, a long-lasting liposomal bupivacaine local anesthetic agent, has many significant benefits in the management of postoperative pain.

Summary

Overall, the literature suggests that Exparel may be a significant component for postoperative multimodal pain control owing to its efficacy and long duration of action.

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References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Neuroscience, LSU Health Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, USA

    Alan David Kaye

  2. Department of Anesthesia, Department of Anesthesiology, LSU Health Sciences Center, Room 656, 1542 Tulane Ave., New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA

    Cassandra Armstead-Williams

  3. Department of Anesthesiology, LSU Health Shreveport, 1501 Kings Highway, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA

    Farees Hyatali, Shilpa Patil & Elyse M. Cornett

  4. Department of Anesthesiology, Tulane University Medical Center, 1415 Tulane Ave, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA

    Katherine S. Cox

  5. Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA

    Rachel J. Kaye

  6. Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA

    Lauren K. Eng

  7. Department of Anesthesiology, 1415 Tulane Ave, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA

    Muhammad A. Farooq Anwar

  8. Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 5777 East Mayo Blvd, Phoenix, AZ, 85054, USA

    Perene V. Patel

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Kaye, A.D., Armstead-Williams, C., Hyatali, F. et al. Exparel for Postoperative Pain Management: a Comprehensive Review. Curr Pain Headache Rep 24, 73 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-020-00905-4

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