patient, and then venting
carbon dioxide or
nitrous oxide through
the probe to freeze the
targeted nerve and block
the pain signal it would
send to the brain — for
several weeks to months
at a time.
While much has been
said about the potential
analgesic benefits of
using cryo to treat acute pain, very few surgical facilities currently
employ this pain-relieving technology. M Health Fairview, however, is
an exception. The facility has already performed 30 to 50 cryo treat-
ments, many of which were done on patients preparing to undergo total
knee replacements. What's more, the facility expects to increase that
number significantly moving forward.
M Health Fairview providers administer cryo treatments in an HOPD
setting two to four weeks before patients undergo total joint replace-
ment surgery. The two groups that benefit most are chronic opioid users
and overweight patients. For the latter group, the relief cryo can provide
ultimately allows them to better prepare for their upcoming procedures.
"Surgeons will often urge overweight patients to lose weight prior
to their total joints procedures," says Dr. Hutchins. "But if you're in
severe knee pain, it's tough to perform exercises that can help you
lose weight."
For these patients, Dr. Hutchins sees great value in what cryo can
do. "We've been using it to provide analgesia before total knees, so
patients can exercise, lose some weight and come in as a better over-
A P R I L 2 0 2 0 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y. N E T • 2 3
• IN CONTROL Patients appreciate the ability to give themselves a bolus of
medication to treat breakthrough pain.
