Regional anesthesia and pain medicine
-
Reg Anesth Pain Med · Jan 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialUltrasound-Guided Single-Penetration Dual-Injection Block for Leg and Foot Surgery: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-blind Study.
A single-penetration dual-injection block of the sciatic and saphenous nerves was faster to perform but equally effective as traditional techniques.
pearl -
Reg Anesth Pain Med · Jan 2014
Are Patients Satisfied After Peripheral Nerve Blockade? Results From an International Registry of Regional Anesthesia.
Peripheral nerve blockade (PNB) is associated with superior outcomes compared with opioids; however, little is known regarding patients' perceptions of the care they have received. Patient satisfaction is emerging as an important indicator of quality of health care, and identifying deficiencies in discrete aspects of satisfaction may allow targeted interventions to improve quality. In this study, we analyze data relevant to patient satisfaction from the International Registry of Regional Anesthesia. The primary objective of this analysis was to report the results of a patient-satisfaction questionnaire and to determine predictors associated with unwillingness to have PNB repeated in the case of future surgery. ⋯ A high proportion of survey respondents were willing to undergo repeat PNB in case of future surgery and were satisfied with their anesthetic care. Targeted interventions to improve quality of PNB should be aimed at improving comfort, information provision, and physician-patient interaction.
-
Reg Anesth Pain Med · Jan 2014
Novel Use of Noninvasive High-Intensity Focused Ultrasonography for Intercostal Nerve Neurolysis in a Swine Model.
High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a noninvasive thermal ablation technique. High-intensity focused ultrasound has been used in small-animal models to lesion neural tissue selectively. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of HIFU in a large-animal model for ablation of nerves similar in size to human nerves. ⋯ High-intensity focused ultrasound may be used as a noninvasive neurolytic technique in swine. High-intensity focused ultrasound may have potential as a neuroablation technique for patients with chronic and cancer pain.
-
Reg Anesth Pain Med · Jan 2014
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyDexmedetomidine Added to Ropivacaine Extends the Duration of Interscalene Brachial Plexus Blocks for Elective Shoulder Surgery When Compared with Ropivacaine Alone: A Single-Center, Prospective, Triple-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial.
Dexmedetomidine 150 mcg significantly extends the duration of ropivacaine interscalene block by almost 30% without significant adverse effect.
pearl