Anesthesiology
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Over the past five decades, quantitative neuromuscular monitoring devices have been used to examine the incidence of postoperative residual neuromuscular block in international clinical practices, and to determine their role in reducing the risk of residual neuromuscular block and associated adverse clinical outcomes. Several clinical trials and a recent meta-analysis have documented that the intraoperative application of quantitative monitoring significantly reduces the risk of residual neuromuscular blockade in the operating room and postanesthesia care unit. ⋯ Several international anesthesia societies have recommended that quantitative monitoring be performed whenever a neuromuscular blocking agent is administered. Therefore, a comprehensive review of the literature was performed to determine the potential benefits of quantitative monitoring in the perioperative setting.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Botulinum Toxin Type A for Lumbar Sympathetic Ganglion Block in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: A Randomized Trial.
The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that botulinum toxin would prolong the duration of a lumbar sympathetic block measured through a sustained increase in skin temperature. The authors performed a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial to investigate the clinical outcome of botulinum toxin type A for lumbar sympathetic ganglion block in patients with complex regional pain syndrome. ⋯ In patients with complex regional pain syndrome, lumbar sympathetic ganglion block using botulinum toxin type A increased the temperature of the affected foot for 3 months and also reduced the pain.