Regional anesthesia
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Regional anesthesia · May 1996
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialComparison of intravenous nalbuphine infusion versus saline as an adjuvant for epidural morphine.
Radical (three-quadrant) hemorrhoidectomy is a major anorectal surgery that may necessitate aggressive pain management. This study was undertaken to determine whether intravenous nalbuphine infusion as an adjuvant to epidural morphine could offer not only a good quality of pain relief but also a lower incidence of side effects. ⋯ The results suggest that intravenous nalbuphine infusion as an adjuvant for epidural morphine reduces the incidence of side effects without decreasing the quality of pain relief.
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Regional anesthesia · May 1996
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialComparison of morphine with and without fentanyl for epidural analgesia after major abdominal surgery.
The study compared bolus injection of fentanyl versus morphine to supplement epidural infusion of morphine for pain relief after major abdominal surgery. ⋯ When fentanyl is added continuously to epidural morphine, the resulting higher total serum levels of opioids during prolonged treatment may increase the risk of respiratory depression. Combining the two opioids for the loading dose, however, may be valuable to shorten the onset time of analgesia.
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Regional anesthesia · May 1996
Comparative StudyPsychological characteristics of reflex sympathetic dystrophy versus myofascial pain syndromes.
Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) has sometimes been hypothesized to derive from a unique psychological predisposition because of its enigmatic features, as well as the profound behavioral and emotional characteristics manifested by some patients. This study compares the psychological characteristics of RSD and myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) patients to discern the extent of any aspects unique to RSD. ⋯ With only a few exceptions, RSD and MPS patients appear comparable with respect to a wide range of demographic, clinical, and psychological functioning indices. A specific psychological profile, uniquely neurotic or otherwise, has yet to be demonstrated in terms of any etiologic or maintenance factors in RSD.
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The study investigated possible neurotoxic effects of increasing concentrations and doses of bupivacaine administered into the subarachnoid space in dogs. ⋯ Increasing concentrations and doses of hyperbaric bupivacaine solutions increased the incidence of nerve tissue damage, which did not occur with hypobaric solutions. These results should contribute to the further understanding of neurologic complications following spinal anesthesia when large doses of local anesthetics in hyperbaric solutions are used.
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Regional anesthesia · May 1996
The regional anesthesia "learning curve". What is the minimum number of epidural and spinal blocks to reach consistency?
Wide variability exists in the amount of regional anesthesia practice to which residents are exposed during training. The number of attempts at various blocks before a trainee becomes proficient at performing these regional anesthetic techniques is not known. This study addresses the question: What is the minimum number of blocks a resident must perform to reach consistency during training in these techniques? ⋯ Approximately 20-25 procedures each are necessary before improvement in the techniques of spinal and epidural anesthesia is demonstrated by residents in training. If a 90% success rate is desired, 45 and 60 attempts at spinal and epidural anesthesia, respectively, may be necessary.