Current opinion in anaesthesiology
-
Intraoperative changes in somatosensory (SEP) and motor evoked potentials (MEPs) may indicate potential injury to the spinal cord and will require timely intervention to prevent permanent damage. This review focuses on the validity of currently recommended warning criteria for intraoperative evoked potential monitoring. ⋯ Current recommendations for warning criteria during intraoperative evoked potential monitoring are empirically derived. Until a threshold that predicts spinal cord injury can be accurately determined, it remains difficult to define the clinical utility of intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring.
-
Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Oct 2017
ReviewAcupuncture for chronic pain: an update and critical overview.
Acupuncture is now recommended for several chronic pain conditions. Despite supportive evidence of its effectiveness, this ancient approach is often misunderstood, and may still be underused in mainstream practice. A critical review on its effectiveness and practice integration, and mechanisms of action is essential to the medical community that is continuing to seek nonopioid therapies for chronic pain. ⋯ Acupuncture is effective, safe, and cost-effective for treating several chronic pain conditions when performed by well-trained healthcare professionals. Further studies on its use as an adjunct or alternative to opioids, and in perioperative settings are needed.
-
The main objective of this article is to present the updated data regarding the perioperative management of patients undergoing major spine surgery in an era where the surgical techniques are changing and there is a high demand for these surgeries in older and high-risk patients. ⋯ A tailored approach to patients undergoing major spine surgeries seems to be effective improving the outcome and quality of life of patients. Future studies should aim to understand which elements of the ERAS can be improved to allow the patient to have a long-term good outcome. VIDEO ABSTRACT.
-
The aim of this review is to summarize recent relevant literature regarding regional anesthesia in the diabetic neuropathic patient and formulate recommendations for clinical practice. ⋯ The pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying diabetic polyneuropathy are complex. Several pathways are thought to contribute to the development of diabetic neuropathy, triggered most importantly by chronic hyperglycemia. The latter induces inflammation and oxidative stress, causing microvascular changes, local ischemia and decreased axonal conduction velocity. Regional anesthesia is different in patients with diabetic neuropathy in several regards. First, the electric stimulation threshold of the nerve is markedly increased whereby the risk for needle trauma in stimulator-guided nerve blocks is theoretically elevated. Second, the diabetic nerve is more sensitive to local anesthetics, which results in longer block duration. Third, local anesthetics have been conjectured to be more toxic in diabetic neuropathy but the evidence is equivocal and should not be a cause to deny regional anesthesia to patients with a valid indication. Lastly, when peripheral nerve catheters are used, diabetes is an independent predisposing factor for infection.
-
Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Oct 2017
ReviewRegional blocks carried out during general anesthesia or deep sedation: myths and facts.
More patients will accept regional blocks if these are performed during sedation or general anesthesia. This review discusses regional anesthesia in sedated or anesthetized patients. ⋯ With the use of ultrasound guidance in skilled hands, it is a reasonable option to perform neuraxial and peripheral regional blocks in sedated or anesthetized patients. Performing the procedure safely and effectively requires an adequate level of experience with the specific block technique in question.