Regional anesthesia
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Regional anesthesia · Nov 1995
The incidence of neurovascular complications following axillary brachial plexus block using a transarterial approach. A prospective study of 1,000 consecutive patients.
The present study was performed at the Crystal Clinic Surgery Center, an outpatient free-standing surgicenter specializing in orthopedic surgery, to determine the incidence of both neurologic and vascular sequelae associated with exclusive use of a transarterial approach to axillary brachial plexus block in order to assess the technique's safety and efficacy. ⋯ This study demonstrated the safety and efficacy of the transarterial technique in achieving brachial plexus block.
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Effective management of severe pain in acute pancreatitis is one of the important issues in therapy, as pain reflexes can contribute to the development of life-threatening secondary complications. Although opioid derivatives are still clinically in use, the direct interruption of afferent nociceptive visceral stimulation (e.g., by segmental epidural block) is claimed to be much more effective method of pain relief. However, in a group of the patients with alcohol ingestion as the etiology of pancreatitis and history of drug/opioid addiction in the background, epidural block failed to alleviate the pain. Study aim was to assess the effect of continuous celiac plexus block as an alternative analgesic method in patients with acute pancreatitis by using a retrospective analysis. ⋯ Intermittent or continuous unilateral celiac plexus block offers an effective alternative treatment for pain in acute pancreatitis, especially in patients with alcohol etiology and history of drug/opioid addiction, in whom the conventional methods fail to give proper pain relief.
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The practice and success of regional anesthesia (RA) are influenced by a number of factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate patients' attitudes toward RA--perhaps the aspect least evaluated in anesthesia practice--and the factors influencing it. ⋯ The performance of RA and consequently the knowledge of it acquired by the patients led to an increase in demand among those individuals who previously had expressed doubts about the technique. Previously positive attitudes remained unchanged. The combination of adequate sedation and the correct anesthetic procedure may favor patient acceptance of RA.
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Regional anesthesia · Nov 1995
Comment Letter Comparative StudyOutcome of epidural analgesia versus patient-controlled analgesia in cancer patients.