Regional anesthesia
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Regional anesthesia · Sep 1995
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialHyperosmolarity does not contribute to transient radicular irritation after spinal anesthesia with hyperbaric 5% lidocaine.
In addition to major neurologic injury, local anesthesia toxicity may also include less severe but more common neurologic side effects. The authors recently observed symptoms suggestive of transient radicular irritation in one third of patients after spinal anesthesia with hyperbaric 5% lidocaine, whereas evidence of neurologic symptoms was lacking with hyperbaric 0.5% bupivacaine. The purpose of this prospective double-blinded study was to evaluate if the high osmolarity of hyperbaric 5% lidocaine solution might contribute to the development of transient radicular irritation. ⋯ The results suggest that transient radicular irritation did not result from the marked hyperosmolarity of the hyperbaric 5% lidocaine. However, because lidocaine and bupivacaine were not administered at equipotent dosages, the relative potential for both drugs to induce transient radicular irritation remains to be determined.
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Regional anesthesia · Sep 1995
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialIntravenous ketorolac and subarachnoid opioid analgesia in the management of acute postoperative pain.
Ketorolac is a parenteral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that provides analgesia through a peripheral mechanism. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the scheduled administration of intravenous ketorolac improves the analgesia provided by subarachnoid opioids after surgery. ⋯ When used in conjunction with subarachnoid opioids, the scheduled administration of intravenous ketorolac during the first 24 hours after major urologic surgery significantly enhances analgesia and reduces the need for supplemental intravenous opioids without affecting the incidence of side effects. Intravenous ketorolac is a safe and useful adjuvant to subarachnoid opioids in the management of acute postoperative pain.
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Regional anesthesia · Sep 1995
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialAlkalinization of local anesthetics. Which block, which local anesthetic?
A number of clinical studies have been performed in an attempt to establish the effects of alkalinization on potency of local anesthetics. Conflicting results were obtained probably because different studies used different methods as well as different definitions of the effects. To determine the efficacy of alkalinization using different local anesthetic solutions and different regional blocks, 180 patients were studied in a randomized, double-blind fashion. The local anesthetic solutions studied were bupivacaine, mepivacaine, and lidocaine; the regional blocks studied were epidural block, axillary brachial plexus block, and femoral and sciatic nerve block. ⋯ Alkalinization produced the best results with lidocaine and bupivacaine for epidural block, with lidocaine for brachial plexus block, and with mepivacaine for sciatic and femoral nerve blocks.
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Regional anesthesia · Sep 1995
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialDouble-blind randomized evaluation of intercostal nerve blocks as an adjuvant to subarachnoid administered morphine for post-thoracotomy analgesia.
Thoracotomy is associated with pain and compromised pulmonary function. Intercostal nerve blocks (INB) and subarachnoid morphine (SM) act on different portions of the pain pathway. Each is effective for post-thoracotomy pain relief. The combination of these two modalities in relieving post-thoracotomy pain and improving postoperative pulmonary function has not been investigated. ⋯ Although postoperative INB provided modest improvements in pain and pulmonary function when used as an adjuvant to 0.5 mg SM for post-thoracotomy analgesia, the benefits were transient. The authors do not recommend adding INB for patients undergoing lateral thoracotomy who receive 0.5 mg SM.
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Regional anesthesia · Sep 1995
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialThoracic versus lumbar administration of fentanyl using patient-controlled epidural after thoracotomy.
Epidural fentanyl injection can provide analgesia following thoracotomy, but where to insert the catheter is a matter of debate. The study compares the effects of thoracic and lumbar patient-controlled epidural fentanyl on analgesia, fentanyl requirements, and plasma levels after thoracotomy. ⋯ The authors concluded that there is little if any advantage of thoracic over lumbar patient-controlled epidural fentanyl administration in patients after thoracotomy with respect to analgesia, fentanyl requirements, and plasma levels.