Regional anesthesia and pain medicine
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Feb 2025
ReviewChronic postsurgical pain and transitional pain services: a narrative review highlighting European perspectives.
Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) is a significant, often debilitating outcome of surgery, impacting patients' quality of life and placing a substantial burden on healthcare systems worldwide. CPSP (pain persisting for more than 3 months postsurgery) leads to both physical and psychological distress. Recognized as a distinct chronic pain entity in International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision, CPSP enables better reporting and improved management strategies. Despite advancements in surgical care, CPSP remains prevalent, affecting 5%-85% of patients, with higher rates following thoracotomies, amputations, mastectomies and joint replacements. ⋯ Future research should focus on large-scale studies integrating various factors to facilitate CPSP prediction, refine prevention strategies and reduce its long-term impact.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Jan 2025
ReviewEfficacy of long-acting local anesthetics versus their mixture with shorter-acting local anesthetics for peripheral nerve blocks guided by ultrasound: a systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Local anesthetic (LA) mixtures are used in peripheral nerve blocks (PNB) to improve onset, though study results remain conflicting. ⋯ LA mixtures may not affect sensory and motor block onset in ultrasound-guided PNB but could shorten the duration of sensory blockade.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Jan 2025
Influence of antithrombotic medication on size and neurological outcome of spinal epidural hematoma after neuraxial anesthesia: a systematic review.
Anticoagulation guidelines were developed to reduce the potential risk of epidural bleeding following neuraxial anesthesia. However, the influence of antithrombotic medication on size of spinal epidural hematoma and neurological outcome is unclear. Therefore, our aim was to analyze whether there is a correlation. ⋯ Antithrombotic medication is not significantly associated with hematoma size; however, the use of antithrombotic medication doubled the risk for persistent neurological deficit after spinal epidural hematoma.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Jan 2025
ReviewBuprenorphine versus full agonist opioids for acute postoperative pain management: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Opioids continue to play a key role in managing acute postoperative pain, but their use contributes to adverse outcomes. Buprenorphine may offer effective analgesia with a superior safety profile. ⋯ CRD42023447715.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Dec 2024
ReviewPerioperative considerations for patients exposed to hallucinogens.
Hallucinogen exposure in patients in the perioperative period presents challenges for anesthesiologists and other anesthesia providers. Acute and chronic exposure to these substances can cause physiological impacts that can affect the function of anesthetic and analgesic medications used during perioperative care. The objective of this narrative review is to educate readers on the wide array of hallucinogens and psychedelics that may influence the perioperative management of patients exposed to these substances. ⋯ Many of these substances increase serotonin levels or act directly at serotonergic receptors. However, there are other relevant actions that may include varied mechanisms from N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonism to stimulation of muscarinic receptors. With hallucinogen exposure rates on the rise, understanding the effects of hallucinogens is important for optimizing management and reducing risks perioperatively for patients with acute or chronic exposure.