Regional anesthesia and pain medicine
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · May 2017
ReviewUltrasound-Guided Interventional Procedures: Myofascial Trigger Points With Structured Literature Review.
Ultrasound-guided injections in pain medicine are a common intervention. They have been used to manage myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) in different muscles of the body. The main objectives of this article were to review ultrasound-guided injection techniques used for treating MTrPs. We also summarize the anatomy and sonoanatomy of MTrPs using the upper trapezius muscle as an example.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · May 2017
ReviewReview of Sympathetic Blocks: Anatomy, Sonoanatomy, Evidence, and Techniques.
The autonomic nervous system is composed of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The sympathetic nervous system is implicated in situations involving emergent action by the body and additionally plays a role in mediating pain states and pathologies in the body. Painful conditions thought to have a sympathetically mediated component may respond to blockade of the corresponding sympathetic fibers. ⋯ Although initially injected using landmark-based techniques, fluoroscopy and more recently ultrasound imaging have allowed greater visualization and facilitated injections of these structures. In addition to treating painful conditions, sympathetic blockade has been used to improve perfusion, treat angina, and even suppress posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. This review explores the anatomy, sonoanatomy, and evidence supporting these injections and focuses on ultrasound-guided/assisted technique for the performance of these blocks.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Apr 2017
Ultrasound-Guided Glossopharyngeal Nerve Block: A Cadaver and a Volunteer Sonoanatomy Study.
Glossopharyngeal nerve (GPN) blocks are usually performed by topical, intraoral, or peristyloid approaches, which carry significant complication risks due to the proximity of important neurovascular structures. This study presents a proof of concept for a new ultrasound (US)-guided technique, which would block the GPN distally, in the parapharyngeal space, away from the immediate vicinity of high-risk collateral structures. ⋯ Based on our anatomical results in cadavers and healthy volunteers, we submit that successful and safe blockade of the distal GPN at the pharyngeal wall level is technically feasible under US guidance.