Opioid requirement after arthroscopy is associated with decreasing glucose levels and increasing PGE2 levels in the synovial membrane

Figures & data

Details of the 14 patients who underwent arthroscopy due to suspected intraarticular pathology

Case	Ketobemidon opioid (mg)		Sex	Age (years)	Height (cm)	Weight (kg)	Body mass index (BMI)	Operating time (min)	Diagnosis/injury
1	Yes	2	F	24	173	58	19	47	Operative ^a
2	Yes	3	M	17	194	107	28	25	Diagnostic
3	No		M	41	174	75	25	45	Operative ^a
4	No		F	40	164	72	27	23	Diagnostic
5	Yes	2	M	32	183	104	31	65	Operative ^a
6	No		M	43	186	99	29	48	Operative ^a
7	No		M	29	180	115	35	30	Operative ^a
8	No		F	37	164	64	24	55	Diagnostic
9	Yes	2	M	36	177	92	29	43	Operative ^a
10	No		M	43	186	102	29	42	Operative ^a
11	No		M	52	187	100	29	46	Operative ^a
12	No		M	37	165	72	26	20	Diagnostic
13	Yes	2	F	42	178	92	29	50	Operative ^a
14	Yes	3	M	28	182	102	31	52	Operative ^a

^ae.g. meniscus surgery or shaving.

Figure 1 a and b. Dialysate levels (mean and SD) of glucose over 3 h after knee arthroscopy. There was a significant decrease in glucose over time in the synovial membrane (a) among the patients receiving opioids (closed circles), but not among those who did not require additional opioids (squares). In the reference tissue (b) there was no significant change in glucose in either group of patients.

Figure 2. Dialysate levels of PGE2 (mean and SD) over 3 h after knee arthroscopy. There was a significant trend toward decreased levels of PGE2 over time in the synovial membrane of the patients receiving opioids, but not among those who did not require additional opioids. In the reference tissue, the majority of PGE2 measurements were below the detection limits (data not shown).