Perioperative subcutaneous methylnaltrexone does not enhance gastrointestinal recovery after posterior short-segment spinal arthrodesis surgery: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Postoperative ileus is a major barrier to gastrointestinal recovery following surgery. Opioid analgesics likely play an important causative role, particularly in spinal or orthopedic surgeries not involving bowel manipulation. Methylnaltrexone, a peripherally-acting µ-opioid receptor antagonist, is a potential prophylactic treatment. PURPOSE: To assess the influence of perioperative subcutaneous methylnaltrexone administration on gastrointestinal recovery following short-segment lumbar arthrodesis surgeries. DESIGN: This is a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. PATIENT SAMPLE: Eligible patients undergoing posterior short-segment lumbar arthrodesis surgeries at a single institution between February 2019 and April 2021 were enrolled in this study. OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was time-to-first bowel movement. Secondary outcome measures included time-to-discharge/discharge eligibility. Exploratory outcome measures included daily postoperative opioid consumption and pain scores. METHODS: In this study, eligible patients were enrolled to receive either methylnaltrexone or placebo perioperatively. Time-to-bowel movement, time-to-discharge/discharge eligibility, intra and postoperative analgesic administration, and pain scores were recorded and compared. RESULTS: Eighty two patients in total were enrolled; 41 to the methylnaltrexone and 41 to the placebo group. Both groups were similar in their baseline characteristics. There was no difference in median (range) time-to-bowel movement between the 2 groups [61.8 hours (35.7–93.6) versus 50.7 hours (17.8–110.8), p = .391]. There was also no difference in time-to-discharge/discharge eligibility [105.0 hours (81.0 – 201.3) versus 90.7 (77.5 – 184.5), p=.784]. Finally, there were no differences in either postoperative opioid consumption or numeric rating scores for back, leg, or abdominal pain on postoperative days 0 to 4 (p>.05). CONCLUSIONS: Methylnaltrexone did not accelerate gastrointestinal recovery and did not affect opioid consumption or pain scores following short-segment spinal surgery as compared to placebo. Additional studies will be needed to identify effective opioid receptor antagonist dosing regimens for patients undergoing either short- or long-segment spinal arthrodesis procedures.