Regional anesthesia and pain medicine
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Sep 2008
Biography Historical ArticleCentennial of intravenous regional anesthesia. Bier's Block (1908-2008).
The surgeon August Gustav Bier significantly influenced surgery, general medicine, and especially anesthesia. He was the father of spinal anesthesia (1898) and intravenous regional anesthesia (1908). ⋯ On the occasion of the centennial anniversary of the first use of intravenous regional anesthesia it is appropriate to recall Bier's contribution to the repertoire of anesthesiologists. The evolutionary history of both the injected drugs and the refinements of the technique are elaborated upon.
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A peripheral nerve or spinal cord injury is a rare but significant complication of regional anesthesia. Evaluation of acute nerve injury includes a focused history and examination to localize the lesion. Confirmatory testing should include electromyography and appropriate imaging. ⋯ The prognosis for cauda equina or spinal cord lesions is more guarded. Recovery from these is commonly incomplete. Early diagnosis and intervention is the key to preventing catastrophic neurological outcomes.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Sep 2008
Comment Letter Case ReportsEight ball, corner pocket ultrasound-guided supraclavicular block: avoiding a scratch.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Jul 2008
Case ReportsLimitations and technical considerations of ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve blocks: edema and subcutaneous air.
Despite advantages of ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve blocks as compared with established techniques, various limitations may exist. We present 2 trauma patients in whom the usefulness of ultrasound techniques was limited by edema and subcutaneous air. ⋯ Ultrasound technique limitations do exist. We present 2 conditions, edema and subcutaneous air, which contributed to ultrasound failure to provide a clear image of the targeted nerves.