Regional anesthesia and pain medicine
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Mar 2010
Spinal Anesthesia and Intrathecal Clonidine Decrease the Hypnotic Requirement of Propofol.
Spinal anesthesia and intrathecal clonidine are known to have hypnotic effects. We investigated the effect of spinal anesthesia and intrathecal clonidine on the requirement of propofol for sedation. ⋯ Spinal anesthesia and intrathecal clonidine might reduce the requirement of propofol for sedation. Our study showed target concentrations of propofol for sedation of 1.4 to 1.7 using local anesthesia only, 1.1 to 1.4 using spinal anesthesia with bupivacaine, and 0.7 to 0.9 microg/mL using spinal anesthesia with bupivacaine and 75 microg of clonidine
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Mar 2010
Pulsed radiofrequency for the treatment of occipital neuralgia: a prospective study with 6 months of follow-up.
Occipital neuralgia is a paroxysmal nonthrobbing, stabbing pain in the area of the greater or lesser occipital nerve caused by irritation of these nerves. Although several therapies have been reported, no criterion standard has emerged. This study reports on the results of a prospective trial with 6 months of follow-up in which pulsed radiofrequency treatment of the greater and/or lesser occipital nerve was used to treat this neuralgia. ⋯ Pulsed radiofrequency treatment of the greater and/or lesser occipital nerve is a promising treatment of occipital neuralgia. This study warrants further placebo-controlled trials.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Mar 2010
Ultrasonographic appearance of intraneural injections in the porcine model.
Ultrasonographic (US) images of apparent intraneural injection of local anesthetic solutions have been reported. We aimed to define US signs of intraneural (ie, subepineural) injection using a histologic standard in an animal model and compare these signs with other potential markers of intraneural injection, including low nerve stimulation current thresholds and high injection pressures. ⋯ Ultrasonographic images compatible with nerve swelling during an injection are consistent with true intraneural injections as demonstrated by histologic analysis. Under the conditions studied, intensity of the stimulating current required to elicit motor response was not associated with intraneural needle placement. In the absence of fascicular injury, intraneural injections were associated with low injection pressure, although false-positive results can occur.