Regional-Anaesthesie
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We report a patient who was given continuous epidural anesthesia due to painful contractions during delivery of a child after intrauterine fetal death. Placement of the catheter and repeated reinjections were carried out without problems, however, during withdrawal of the catheter it could only be pulled 1-2 cm until there was enormous resistance. ⋯ Insertion of the catheter too far into the epidural space initially must be considered as a possible cause. As this complication rarely occurs, we consider this case worth reporting.
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The availability of very fine-bore, long spinal needles (28/10 Ga) has stimulated a new wave of interest in the technique of combined spinal-epidural anesthesia. The original double-puncture technique has progressed due to special combination needles to the current spinal-needle-through-epidural-needle technique. The availability of adapted Tuohy needles, special combination sets, and long spinal needles indicates a lack of standardization. ⋯ The spinal component allows a rapid onset and intense analgesia with appropriate muscle relaxation. The epidural catheter allows the administration of agents into the epidural space as well as optimization and prolongation of analgesia in the postoperative phase. Confirming the position of the epidural catheter introduced after spinal anesthesia has been established remains a matter of concern.
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Regional-Anaesthesie · Aug 1991
Review[Dose limits for local anesthetics. Recommendations based on toxicologic and pharmacokinetic data].
Since Heinrich Braun added adrenaline to cocaine (and later also to procaine) in 1903 to allow clinical use of this local anesthetic, "limiting dosages" for local anesthetics have been "recommended" with no reference to the technique of administration, on the assumption that adrenaline will lower the toxicity of the local anesthetic used. However, the limiting dosages determined up to now do not take account of important pharmacokinetic and toxicological data: (1) The dependence of blood levels measured on the technique of regional anesthesia and (2) the raised toxicity of a local anesthetic solution containing adrenaline following inadvertent intravascular (intravenous) injection. A maximum dose recommendation that differs according to the technique of local anesthesia is suggested for (A) subcutaneous injection, (B) injection in regions of high absorption, (C) single injection (perineural, e.g. plexus), (D) protracted injection (catheter, combined techniques), (E) injection into vasoactive regions (near to the spinal cord, spinal, epidural, sympathetic). This sequential categorization also underscores the need for selection of appropriate techniques as well as for concomitant monitoring referred to the technique of administration and to the expected and the possible plasma level curve.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Regional-Anaesthesie · Aug 1991
Case Reports[Paraplegia following removal of an epidural catheter].
Acute paraplegia caused by an epidural hematoma developed in a patient following the removal of an epidural catheter. This catheter had been used for 3 days for postoperative pain relief with no apparent complications. Heparin (10,000 units/day) had been infused for thrombosis prophylaxis and was associated with a normal activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) for the first two postoperative days. ⋯ An epidural hematoma extending from T12 to L4 was evacuated during emergency laminectomy and neurologic deficits resolved completely over the next days. Thus, the removal of an epidural catheter has the potential for inducing formation of an epidural hematoma. Accordingly, it may be safest to leave epidural catheters in place if test results demonstrate a bleeding diathesis or if a potential for bleeding is suspected on clinical grounds.
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Regional-Anaesthesie · Aug 1991
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial[Continuous spinal anesthesia versus continuous epidural anesthesia in surgery of the lower extremities. A prospective randomized study].
Continuous epidural anesthesia (CEA) is generally accepted as a routine method of regional anesthesia while there has been only limited application of continuous spinal anesthesia (CSA), due mainly to a lack of adequate spinal catheters. With the introduction of a new, ultra-thin spinal catheter (32 G) inserted via a thin puncture needle, some of the complications reported after CSA can be eliminated. We studied CSA versus CEA in lower-extremity operations. ⋯ The catheter designed for CSA is easy to use, although because of its small diameter a certain manual dexterity is required. In addition, CSA resulted in a more rapid onset of action and more pronounced sensorimotor blockade than did CEA. Hemodynamic alterations and side effects were comparably low in both groups.