Multimodal opioid-sparing pain management after lung transplantation and the impact of liposomal bupivacaine intercostal nerve block

Opioid analgesics are commonly used post-lung transplant, but have many side effects and are associated with worse outcomes. We conducted a retrospective review of all lung transplant recipients who were treated with a multimodal opioid-sparing pain protocol. The use of liposomal bupivacaine intercostal nerve block was variable due to hospital restrictions. The primary objective was to describe opioid requirements and patient-reported pain scores early post-lung transplant and to assess the impact of intraoperative liposomal bupivacaine intercostal nerve block. We treated 64 lung transplant recipients with our protocol. Opioid utilization decreased to a mean of 43 milligram oral morphine equivalents by postoperative day 4. Median pain scores peaked at 4 on postoperative day 1 and decreased thereafter. Only three patients were discharged home with opioids, all of whom were taking opioid agonist therapy pre-transplant for opioid use disorder. Patients who received liposomal bupivacaine intercostal nerve block in the operating room had a significant reduction in opioid consumption over postoperative day 1 through 4 (228 mg vs. 517 mg, P=.032). A multimodal opioid-sparing pain management protocol is feasible and resulted in weaning of opioids prior to hospital discharge.