Regional anesthesia and pain medicine
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Nov 2020
CommentImages in anesthesiology: three safe, simple, and inexpensive methods to administer the sphenopalatine ganglion block.
The sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) block is a simple and valuable technique that was discovered over a century ago, but, unfortunately, very few anesthesiology providers are familiar with this block. After some of our recent publications, physicians from different countries have reached out to us requesting more specifics on how we perform our version of the block. In this report, we provide a brief history of the block and demonstrate our three effective, simple, readily available, and inexpensive methodologies with images. We are proud to share that our three SPG block techniques have so far effectively relieved patients of chronic migraines, acute migraines, tension headaches, moderate-to-severe back pain, and post-dural puncture headaches.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Nov 2020
Cadaveric study identifying clinical sonoanatomy for proximal and distal approaches of ultrasound-guided intercostobrachial nerve block.
The intercostobrachial nerve (ICBN) has significant anatomical variation. Localization of the ICBN requires an operator's skill. This cadaveric study aims to describe two simple ultrasound-guided plane blocks of the ICBN when it emerges at the chest wall (proximal approach) and passes through the axillary fossa (distal approach). ⋯ The proximal and distal ICBN blocks, using easily recognized sonoanatomical landmarks, provided consistent dye spread to the ICBN. We encourage further validation of these two techniques in clinical studies.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Nov 2020
Observational StudyImpact of video games on ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia skills.
There is an association between video game practice and laparoscopic expertize in trainee surgeons. Ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia has many parallels with laparoscopic surgery. The aim of this study was to explore whether video game experience is associated with enhanced performance in a simulated ultrasound-guided task in novice operators. ⋯ Video game practice is associated with increased mental rotation ability and enhanced technical performance in a simulated ultrasound-guided task.