Regional anesthesia and pain medicine
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Dec 2020
Fluoroscopically guided mandibular nerve block: a modified lateral approach.
Mandibular nerve blocks are indicated for atypical face pain and trigeminal neuralgia. We hypothesized that a modified lateral approach, which entailed a combination of lateral and anterior approach techniques to the mandibular nerve block would lead to similar efficacy and improved safety profile rather than the typical lateral or anterior techniques. ⋯ The modified lateral approach to a mandibular nerve block avoids the respective risks associated with either the lateral and anterior approach. Facial intervention techniques typically pose increased safety challenges, however through cadaveric anatomic reconstruction, we have developed a safer approach for mandibular nerve blockade.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Dec 2020
ReviewPoint-of-care ultrasound for the pediatric regional anesthesiologist and pain specialist: a technique review.
Point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) has been well described for adult perioperative patients; however, the literature on children remains limited. Regional anesthesiologists have gained interest in expanding their clinical repertoire of PoCUS from regional anesthesia to increasing numbers of applications. This manuscript reviews and highlights emerging PoCUS applications that may improve the quality and safety of pediatric care. ⋯ When PoCUS is used, a more rapid institution of problem-specific therapy with improved patient outcomes is demonstrated in the pediatric emergency medicine and critical care literature. Overall, PoCUS saves time, expedites the differential diagnosis, and helps direct therapy when used in infants and children. PoCUS is low risk and should be readily accessible to pediatric anesthesiologists in the operating room.