Regional anesthesia and pain medicine
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · May 2017
Review Meta Analysis Comparative StudyPerineural Versus Intravenous Dexamethasone as an Adjuvant for Peripheral Nerve Blocks: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Dexamethasone is a useful adjuvant in regional anesthesia that is used to prolong the duration of analgesia for peripheral nerve blocks. Recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have demonstrated conflicting results as to whether perineural versus intravenous (IV) administration is superior in this regard, and the perineural use of dexamethasone remains off-label. Therefore, we sought to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs. ⋯ Perineural dexamethasone prolongs the duration of analgesia across the RCTs included in our meta-analysis. The magnitude of effect of 3.77 hours raises the question as to whether perineural dexamethasone should be administered routinely over its IV counterpart-or reserved for selected patients where such prolongation would be clinically important.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · May 2017
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyAnterior Suprascapular Nerve Block Versus Interscalene Brachial Plexus Block for Shoulder Surgery in the Outpatient Setting: A Randomized Controlled Patient- and Assessor-Blinded Trial.
The interscalene brachial plexus block (ISB), a potent option to control pain after shoulder surgery, has notable adverse effects. The anterior suprascapular nerve block (SSNB) might provide comparable analgesia and cause less grip-strength impairment. These characteristics were studied in this randomized controlled patient- and assessor-blinded trial. ⋯ For outpatients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery under general anesthesia, the SSNB seems preferable to ISB. It provides excellent postoperative analgesia without exposing patients to impaired mobility and to risks of the more potent but also more invasive ISB.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · May 2017
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyA Double-Blind Randomized Comparison of Continuous Interscalene, Supraclavicular, and Suprascapular Blocks for Total Shoulder Arthroplasty.
Continuous brachial plexus blocks at the interscalene level are associated with known diaphragm dysfunction from phrenic nerve paresis. More distal blocks along the brachial plexus may provide postsurgical analgesia while potentially having less effect on diaphragm function. Continuous interscalene, continuous supraclavicular, and continuous suprascapular nerve blocks were evaluated for respiratory function and analgesia after total shoulder arthroplasty. ⋯ A continuous suprascapular block may be a useful analgesic alternative to the interscalene or supraclavicular approaches when the preservation of lung function is a priority after shoulder replacement surgery.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · May 2017
ReviewReporting of Design Features and Analysis Details in Randomized Clinical Trials of Procedural Treatments for Cancer Pain: An ACTTION Systematic Review.
The objective of this study was to assess the reporting of randomized clinical trials investigating procedural treatments (eg, nerve blocks, targeted drug delivery) for cancer pain, with a focus on aspects that are particularly challenging in these trials. ⋯ The goal of highlighting these deficiencies in reporting is to promote transparent reporting of details affecting the completion and interpretation of procedural cancer pain trials so that their quality can be more easily evaluated.