Regional anesthesia
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Regional anesthesia · Jan 1997
Comparative StudyRole of needle gauge and tip configuration in the production of lumbar puncture headache.
Postdural puncture headache (PDPH) is a morbidity that occurs frequently after lumbar puncture. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of needle diameter and tip configuration in causing PDPH. The incidence of PDPH was evaluated in parturients because this group of patients is at high risk for developing PDPH and because they often undergo lumbar puncture for spinal anesthesia. ⋯ The morbidity associated with lumbar puncture can be decreased by selecting the proper needle gauge and tip configuration. Use of the smallest gauge needle and one that has a noncutting Whitacre tip produces the lowest incidence of PDPH in parturients, a group of patients at increased risk for developing PDPH.
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Regional anesthesia · Jan 1997
Comparative StudyFailure of meperidine to anesthetize human median nerve. A blinded comparison with lidocaine and saline.
Although meperidine safely produces clinical spinal anesthesia, the responsible mechanism is unknown. This study was undertaken to test the possibility that this drug acts as a local anesthetic by investigating its ability to inhibit conduction in a human peripheral nerve. ⋯ Meperidine produced no signs of local anesthesia, even when given at a dose (75 mg) and concentration (1.5%) that consistently produced systemic side effects. Thus, the coequivalent ability of meperidine and lidocaine to produce spinal anesthesia contrasts with their discordant ability to produce local anesthesia. This disparity suggests that meperidine may produce spinal anesthesia through mechanisms other than inhibition of sodium channel function.
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Regional anesthesia · Jan 1997
ReviewIdentification of the epidural space: is loss of resistance to air a safe technique? A review of the complications related to the use of air.
The major determinant of successful epidural anesthesia is the localization of the epidural space. The manual loss of resistance technique is widely used by anesthesiologists in identifying the epidural space. Should air or saline be used in detecting the point of loss of resistance? No consensus exists as to which technique is superior, and individual providers currently use the technique with which they are most comfortable. The incidence of adverse effects associated with the use of epidural air is unknown and may be underreported as the effects may be unrecognized or considered trivial. The authors comprehensively review the complications of epidural air from published reports. ⋯ The potential complications associated with the use of air for identifying the epidural space with the loss of resistance technique may outweigh the benefits. The use of saline to identify the epidural space may help to reduce the incidence of these complications.
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Regional anesthesia · Jan 1997
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialTransdermal fentanyl in postoperative pain.
The aim of this study was to determine the safety and effectiveness of a transdermal fentanyl delivery system for the relief of pain following abdominal surgery. ⋯ Similar postoperative analgesia was achieved with less parenteral analgesics in patients who received transdermal fentanyl preoperatively than in control patients. Fentanyl, 50-75 micrograms/h, administered in a transdermal delivery system, did not depress respiratory rate or hemoglobin oxygen saturation. Although the exact role of continuously administered opioids in managing acute postoperative pain has yet to be clearly defined, it is concluded that if properly used, this new transdermal device can be effective in providing a background of analgesia, which may assist in the management of acute postoperative pain as well as some chronic pain states.
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Regional anesthesia · Jan 1997
A chronic model for experimental investigation of epidural anesthesia in the rabbit.
A rabbit chronic model has been developed for investigation of epidural anesthesia without surgery. ⋯ This rabbit model appears to be a suitable tool for evaluating motor block of epidural agents under standardized experimental conditions.