Review of the evidence: best analgesic regimen for shoulder surgery

Abstract

Multimodal pain management has been advocated in patients experiencing acute pain after surgical procedures due to tissue damage and the subsequent inflammatory response. For patients undergoing shoulder surgeries, studies have definitively shown that interscalene blocks (ISBs) via single-injection or continuous infusion can reduce the total opioid consumption and can lower pain scores after surgery. In some cases, ISBs can be used as the sole anesthetic during shoulder surgeries and spare patients of receiving general anesthesia. However, clinicians should be fully aware of potential pulmonary complications of ISBs and weigh the risk-benefit ratio in patients with limited pulmonary reserve.