Regional anesthesia and pain medicine
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Jul 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialAdherence to guidelines for the management of local anesthetic systemic toxicity is improved by an electronic decision support tool and designated "reader".
A hardcopy or paper cognitive aid has been shown to improve performance during the management of simulated local anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST) when given to the team leader. However, there remains room for improvement to ensure a system that can achieve perfect adherence to the published guidelines for LAST management. Recent research has shown that implementing a checklist via a designated reader may be of benefit. Accordingly, we sought to investigate the effect of an electronic decision support tool (DST) and designated "Reader" role on team performance during an in situ simulation of LAST. ⋯ In a prospective, randomized single-blinded study, a designated Reader with an electronic DST improved adherence to guidelines in the management of an in situ simulation of LAST. Such tools are promising in the future of medicine, but further research is needed to ensure the best methods for implementing them in the clinical arena.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Jul 2014
Multicenter StudyAsleep Versus Awake: Does It Matter?: Pediatric Regional Block Complications by Patient State: A Report From the Pediatric Regional Anesthesia Network.
Performing regional anesthetic blocks in children under general anesthesia is as safe as in sedated or awake children.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Jul 2014
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudySubparaneural Versus Circumferential Extraneural Injection at the Bifurcation Level in Ultrasound-Guided Popliteal Sciatic Nerve Blocks: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind Study.
Subparaneural injection for popliteal sciatic nerve block shows faster onset and longer duration than circumferential extraneural injection.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Jul 2014
Comparative StudyComparison Between Digital Subtraction Angiography and Real-time Fluoroscopy to Detect Intravascular Injection During Lumbar Transforaminal Epidural Injections.
Infrequent but serious complications of transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI) are thought to be due to inadvertent intravascular injection (embolization of corticosteroid particulates via the vertebral or thoracolumbar radiculomedullary arteries). Recent studies suggest that real-time fluoroscopy often fails to detect intravascular injection and that digital subtraction angiography (DSA) may help reduce the incidence of accidental vascular injection. The goal of this prospective study was to evaluate the sensitivity of real-time fluoroscopy versus DSA in detecting intravascular injection during TFESI. ⋯ Digital subtraction angiography is superior to real-time fluoroscopy for detecting intravascular injections.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Jul 2014
Multicenter StudyCan Changes in Vital Signs Be Used to Predict the Response to Lumbar Facet Blocks and Radiofrequency Denervation? A Prospective, Correlational Study.
Facet joint radiofrequency (RF) ablation is characterized by a high failure rate, which is partly due to the fact that pain relief after diagnostic blocks is inherently subjective. An area that has yet to be explored is whether more objective measures, such as changes in vital signs after blocks, might be used to predict treatment outcomes. ⋯ Although a decrease in DBP of more than 7.5 mm Hg had 97.3% specificity and 85.7% positive predictive value for predicting positive RF ablation outcomes, the low negative predictive value (56.3%) precludes its use as a solitary screening tool. An algorithm based on age, baseline NRS pain score, and a significant decrease in DBP was able to predict 76.7% (range, 65.8%-86.3%) of RF denervation outcomes.