Regional anesthesia and pain medicine
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Jul 2015
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyMedial Branch Blocks or Intra-Articular Injections as a Prognostic Tool Before Lumbar Facet Radiofrequency Denervation: A Multicenter, Case-Control Study.
Medial branch blocks (MBBs) and intra-articular (IA) facet joint injections are both used to diagnose facet joint pain and are presumed to be equivalent. No study has sought to determine which has a better prognostic value before radiofrequency (RF) denervation. ⋯ When used as a prognostic tool before lumbar facet radiofrequency, MBB may be associated with a higher success rate than IA injections. Our results should be confirmed by large, prospective, randomized studies.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Jul 2015
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyRandomized Comparison of Extrafascial Versus Subfascial Injection of Local Anesthetic During Ultrasound-Guided Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block.
The optimal site for local anesthetic injection during an ultrasound-guided supraclavicular brachial plexus block (BPB) is not known. We tested the hypothesis that local anesthetic injected deep to the "brachial plexus sheath" during supraclavicular BPB would produce faster onset of surgical anesthesia than an injection superficial to the sheath. ⋯ Injection of local anesthetic deep to the brachial plexus sheath at the supraclavicular fossa, under ultrasound-guidance, results in faster onset of surgical anesthesia and prolonged duration of postoperative analgesia than an injection superficial to the sheath.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Jul 2015
Randomized Controlled TrialCutaneous Sensory Block Area, Muscle-Relaxing Effect, and Block Duration of the Transversus Abdominis Plane Block: A Randomized, Blinded, and Placebo-Controlled Study in Healthy Volunteers.
The transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is a widely used nerve block. However, basic block characteristics are poorly described. The purpose of this study was to assess the cutaneous sensory block area, muscle-relaxing effect, and block duration. ⋯ Cutaneous sensory block area of the TAP block is predominantly located lateral to a vertical line through the anterior superior iliac spine. The distribution is nondermatomal and does not cross the midline. The muscle-relaxing effect is significant and consistent. The block duration is approximately 10 hours with large variation.