Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · May 2013
Randomized Controlled TrialAn alternative distal approach for the lumbar medial branch radiofrequency denervation: a prospective randomized comparative study.
An alternative technique involving a "distal approach" can be used for lumbar medial branch radiofrequency denervation (LMBRFD). We described and assessed this technique by comparing it with a conventional tunnel vision approach in a prospective randomized trial. ⋯ Patients who underwent LMBRFD by the tunnel vision or distal approaches showed significant pain relief at the 6-month follow-up. Less periprocedural pain was reported in the distal approach group. We consider that the distal approach provides an improved option for LMBRFD.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · May 2013
Randomized Controlled TrialThe VeinViewer vascular imaging system worsens first-attempt cannulation rate for experienced nurses in infants and children with anticipated difficult intravenous access.
The VeinViewer (Luminetx, Memphis, TN) helps identify veins by projecting an image of subcutaneous vasculature on the skin surface. We tested the primary hypothesis that VeinViewer use improves cannulation success by skilled nurses in pediatric patients with anticipated difficult IV access. A secondary goal was to evaluate the relationship between obesity and cannulation success. ⋯ The VeinViewer worsened first-attempt IV insertion success by skilled nurses. Surprisingly, first-attempt success for IV cannulation was not worsened by obesity.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · May 2013
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyA randomized comparison between bifurcation and prebifurcation subparaneural popliteal sciatic nerve blocks.
In this prospective, randomized, observer-blinded trial, we compared ultrasound-guided subparaneural popliteal sciatic nerve blocks performed either at or proximal to the neural bifurcation (B). We hypothesized that the total anesthesia-related time (sum of performance and onset times) would be decreased with the prebifurcation (PB) technique. ⋯ When local anesthetic is injected inside the paraneural sheath, B and PB posterior popliteal sciatic nerve blocks result in comparable success and total anesthesia-related times. However, in light of the 95% CIs, we cannot exclude the possibility that an intergroup difference of 19% and 7.83 minutes might have gone undetected for success rate and total time, respectively.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · May 2013
A minimally invasive monitoring system of cardiac output using aortic flow velocity and peripheral arterial pressure profile.
In managing patients with unstable hemodynamics, monitoring cardiac output (CO) can provide critical diagnostic data. However, conventional CO measurements are invasive, intermittent, and/or inaccurate. The purpose of this study was to validate our newly developed CO monitoring system. ⋯ Over a wide range of hemodynamic conditions, irrespective of cardiac beat irregularity, this system may allow minimally invasive monitoring of CO with a good trending ability. The present results warrant further research and development of this system for future clinical application.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · May 2013
ReviewNonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs during pregnancy and the initiation of lactation.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and aspirin, which are available as "over-the counter" medications in most countries, are widely used by both pregnant and lactating women. They are popular non-opioid analgesics for the treatment of pain after vaginal and operative delivery. In addition, NSAIDs are used for tocolysis in premature labor, and low-dose aspirin has a role in the prevention of preeclampsia and recurrent miscarriage in antiphospholipid syndrome. ⋯ In the second trimester their use is considered reasonably safe, but has been associated with fetal cryptorchism. In the third trimester, NSAIDs and aspirin are usually avoided because of significant fetal risks such as renal injury, oligohydramnios, constriction of the ductus arteriosus (with potential for persistent pulmonary hypertension in the newborn), necrotizing enterocolitis, and intracranial hemorrhage. Maternal administration or ingestion of most NSAIDs results in low infant exposure via breastmilk, such that both cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors are generally considered safe, and preferable to aspirin, when breastfeeding.