Major lower limb amputation audit – introduction and implementation of a multimodal perioperative pain management guideline

Lower limb amputation is a frequent surgical intervention. It is well known to be associated with postoperative pain. Optimisation of perioperative pain has been shown to reduce the risk of chronic pain. There are no national guidelines for the perioperative pain management of lower limb amputations. Following a baseline audit, we devised a multimodal perioperative pain management guideline, which included the insertion of a local anaesthetic perineural catheter. All patients undergoing an elective or emergency above, through and below knee amputation were reviewed prior and following the implementation of this guideline. Patient postoperative pain scores and opiate usage were analysed. One hundred and twenty-four patients were reviewed (68 patients prior to the implementation of the guideline and 56 patients following the guideline introduction). Following the implementation of the guideline, a greater proportion of patient’s pain scores were reported as 0 (i.e. no pain) compared to patients prior to its implementation (78% vs 61%). Pain scores were lower at all time intervals 6 days postoperatively following the guideline introduction. Statistically significant (Kendall’s tau-b analysis) (p < 0.05) reduction in pain scores was found upon admission to the ward, 6, 12, 24 hours and 2 days postoperatively. Fewer patients required the use of opioid patient controlled of analgesia after the guideline was introduced (26% vs 4%). The implementation of a perioperative pain management guideline improved pain scores and reduced opioid consumption in patients undergoing lower limb amputations. We suggest a holistic and collaborative, multimodal pathway towards the perioperative pain management of lower limb amputations