European journal of anaesthesiology
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Adding sufentanil to ropivacaine in continuous thoracic paravertebral block fails to improve analgesia after video-assisted thoracic surgery: A randomised controlled trial.
The benefit of adding opioid to a local anaesthetic for continuous thoracic paravertebral analgesia after video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is unclear. ⋯ Adding 0.25 μg ml sufentanil to 2 mg ml ropivacaine in continuous thoracic paravertebral analgesia for VATS did not reduce morphine consumption or pain scores when compared with ropivacaine alone. We cannot recommend its use for routine clinical practice. Further studies analysing different concentrations and infusion rates of sufentanil are needed before a lack of efficacy can be confirmed.
-
Letter Observational Study
The feasibility of pressure measurement during an ultrasound-guided thoracic paravertebral block.
-
In contrast to conventional mandatory ventilation, a new ventilation mode, expiratory ventilation assistance (EVA), linearises the expiratory tracheal pressure decline. ⋯ EVA ventilation improves lung aeration via elevated mean tracheal pressure and consequently improves arterial oxygenation at unaltered positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and peak inspiratory pressure (PIP). These findings suggest the EVA mode is a new approach for protective lung ventilation.
-
Observational Study
Assessing changes in tissue oxygenation by near-infrared spectroscopy following brachial plexus block for arteriovenous fistula surgery: A prospective observational pilot study.
Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) can be used to measure tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) in different sites and in a wide range of clinical scenarios. Peripheral regional anaesthesia induces vascular changes causing increased arterial blood flow and venodilatation, but its effect on StO2 is still under debate. This is especially so for patients undergoing arteriovenous fistula surgery, wherein latest data suggest an improved outcome under brachial plexus block (BPB) compared with local anaesthesia, but no data are available. ⋯ NIRSth indicates that BPB significantly increases StO2 of the arteriovenous fistula arm in patients undergoing haemodialysis.