Opiod free anesthesia (OFA) for Open extended right colectomy. A case report and review

Abstract

Opioid free anesthesia (OFA) is defined as an anesthesiologic technique where opioids are not used in the intraoperative and postoperative period. Although the mainstay of intra-operative analgesia may be opioids, current challenges are focus on reducing them and preventing the adverse effects of opioids, by rationalizing and even suspending their perioperative use, specifically at risk populations such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAHS), obesity, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and cancer surgery. We present this case of OFA in a susceptible patient with complications from the use of opioids undergoing an extended right hemicolectomy. Multimodal analgesia was performed with a thoracic peridural and subanesthetic doses of intravenous agents including dexmedetomidine, ketamine and propofol, accompanied by short and long-lasting local periglotic anesthetics. The patient had given an intra- and postoperative analgesia without presenting any adverse events, good recovery, early deambulation and extubation.