Journal of clinical anesthesia
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Review
Peripheral nerve blocks in the management of postoperative pain: challenges and opportunities.
Peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs) are increasingly used as a component of multimodal analgesia and may be administered as a single injection (sPNB) or continuous infusion via a perineural catheter (cPNB). We undertook a qualitative review focusing on sPNB and cPNB with regard to benefits, risks, and opportunities for optimizing patient care. Meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials have shown superior pain control and reductions in opioid consumption in patients receiving PNB compared with those receiving intravenous opioids in a variety of upper and lower extremity surgical procedures. cPNB has also been associated with a reduction in time to discharge readiness compared with sPNB. ⋯ Potential infectious complications of catheters, although rare, include local inflammation and infection. Other considerations for ambulatory cPNB include appropriate patient selection, education, and need for 24/7 availability of a health care provider to address any complications. The ideal PNB technique would have a duration of action that is sufficiently long to address the most intense period of postsurgical pain; should be associated with minimal risk of infection, neurologic complications, bleeding, and local anesthetic systemic toxicity; and should be easy to perform, convenient for patients, and easy to manage in the postoperative period.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of low-dose propofol vs ketamine on emergence cough in children undergoing flexible bronchoscopy with sevoflurane-remifentanil anesthesia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
To determine the effects of low-dose ketamine and propofol on cough during emergence and the recovery period when administered at emergence in children undergoing fiberoptic bronchoscopy for bronchoalveolar lavage (FOBL) with sevoflurane-remifentanil anesthesia. ⋯ Ketamine or propofol given at the end of sevoflurane-remifentanil general anesthesia in children undergoing FOBL did not decrease cough more than normal saline during the emergence period. Ketamine and propofol, compared to normal saline, had a beneficial effect on decreasing the incidence of emergence delirium. Ketamine lengthened recovery time.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of a new visual stylet (Discopo)-guided laryngeal mask airway placement vs conventional blind technique: a prospective randomized study.
To compare the ease of laryngeal mask airway (LMA) insertion and fiberoptic view of LMA after placement using the Discopo visual stylet-guided insertion and conventional blind technique. ⋯ By direct visualizing the whole process of LMA insertion, the Discopo visual stylet increases the success rate and accuracy rate of LMA placement without increasing hemodynamic stress response or incidences of adverse events.
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Comparative Study
A retrospective study of open thoracotomies versus thoracoscopic surgeries for persistent postthoracotomy pain.
Persistent thoracotomy pain syndrome (PTPS) is a recognized complication and is considered to be less after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) compared with open thoracic surgery (OTS). The primary objective was to compare the incidence of PTPS at 6 months. Secondary objectives were to compare the incidence of neuropathic pain between VATS and OTS and to report perioperative factors associated with the development of PTPS. ⋯ Our study indicates that PTPS is significantly more common and has a higher chance of being neuropathic with OTS. Despite being relatively less traumatic, VATS still carries a significant potential for PTPS. A diagnosis of cancer and history of previous pain are highly predictive of its development.
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Cardiac arrest in the perioperative period is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Novel resuscitation devices may afford patients improved survival and limit neurologic injury. We report a case of cardiac arrest in the postanesthesia care unit that required an extensive period of cardiopulmonary resuscitation assisted by the ResQPOD impedance threshold device to optimize coronary perfusion and a LUCAS chest compression system to maintain optimal cardiopulmonary resuscitation while transporting the patient to the cardiac catheterization laboratory. Furthermore, after stabilization for an occluded left anterior descending artery with stent placement, an institutional hypothermia protocol was initiated using Thermogard XP Temperature Management system for 24 hours.