Journal of clinical anesthesia
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Combined preoperative femoral and sciatic nerve blockade improves analgesia after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a randomized controlled clinical trial.
To compare preoperative femoral (FNB) with combined femoral and sciatic nerve block (CFSNB) in patients undergoing arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. ⋯ Preoperative CFSNB for arthroscopic ACL reconstruction improves analgesia, decreases opioid consumption perioperatively, and decreases PACU length of stay when compared with FNB alone.
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Case Reports
Cardiac arrest during radical nephrectomy due to a mass in the right ventricular outflow tract.
We report cardiac arrest due to obstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) caused by an RVOT mass that was not identified preoperatively. A 62-year-old woman with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) experienced deteriorating hypotension and bradycardia during radical nephrectomy. Hemodynamic stability was maintained on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and after surgery, she was transferred to the intensive care unit. ⋯ Our findings suggest that it may be necessary to perform additional tests if RCC has invaded the renal vein and inferior vena cava or if a patient with RCC has abnormal cardiovascular symptoms without definite etiology for exclusion of cardiac metastasis or tumor thrombus. In addition, intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography might be the procedure of choice for the evaluation of these conditions because other diagnostic tests are difficult to perform during surgery. In conclusion, for patients with acute hemodynamic instability for whom other possible causes have been excluded, we recommend that anesthesiologists use transesophageal echocardiography to detect outflow tract obstruction or pulmonary thromboembolism and perform anesthetic management.
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Although anxiolytic-sedative agents are used preoperatively since the advent of anesthesia, many aspects of this treatment, including the intended effects among which anxiolysis, effectiveness, and optimal agents, remain unclear. The objective of this study was to provide insight into the preoperative use of anxiolytic-sedative agents in the Netherlands and to relate the administration of these agents to the anxiolytic-sedative state of patients. ⋯ Anxiolytic-sedative agents are used preoperatively in a substantial number of patients in the Netherlands, and the pharmacokinetic characteristics of many agents are not optimal of their intended use. In addition, we found no relationship with reduced anxiety. This study stresses the need for clear guidelines on preoperative use of anxiolytic-sedative agents.
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Comparative Study
Impact of spinal versus general anesthesia on postoperative pain and long term recurrence after surgery for pilonidal disease.
To assess the effect of the kind of anesthesia on postoperative pain and long term recurrence rate in pilonidal sinus disease. ⋯ The use of SPA or general anesthesia did not affect the long term recurrence rate in PSD. Postoperative pain experienced either in-hospital or after discharge did not differ between patients receiving ITN or SPA. With other cryo- or local anesthesia, postoperative pain score was significantly reduced in any surgical procedure. However, due to the higher recurrence rate after cryo- or local anesthesia, only SPA and general anesthesia should be applied. The decision whether spinal or general anesthesia is applied in PSD surgery remains a purely anesthesiological decision based on standard considerations.