Current pain and headache reports
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Curr Pain Headache Rep · Aug 2019
ReviewExpanding Role of the Erector Spinae Plane Block for Postoperative and Chronic Pain Management.
The erector spinae plane block (ESPB), first described in 2016, offers the promise of becoming a safe, less invasive, and technically less demanding alternative to conventional thoracic regional anesthetic techniques including thoracic epidurals and traditional paravertebral blocks. Clinical and cadaveric studies suggest that ESPB acts on the ventral rami of spinal nerves in the paravertebral space via penetration of the intertransverse connection tissues and moreover achieves visceral analgesia via the rami communicantes and sympathetic chain. ⋯ The block has garnered considerable appeal related to an inherently lower risk of neurovascular and pleural injury, low risk of local anesthetic systemic toxicity, and relative technical simplicity in comparison with epidural or paravertebral blockade. It has been utilized in the treatment of acute perioperative pain in a variety of clinical applications including breast, thoracic, and abdominal surgeries and trauma and may even offer some benefit in spine surgery. Given the combination of its efficacy and decreased associated risk when performed for perioperative pain, use of ESPB should be further explored for the management of chronic pain. Current literature at this time is limited to case studies and series performed by select groups. Though it is important to consider ESPB for chronic pain, further studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the ESPB in the management of both acute and chronic pain.
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Peripheral nerve blocks are effective and safe modalities for perioperative analgesia. But it remains unclear what blocks are adequate for ambulatory surgeries, as well as the proper patient management before and after discharge. ⋯ Emerging nerve blocks have sparked interests due to ease to perform under ultrasound guidance and lower risks of adverse events. Some of these novel blocks are particularly suitable for ambulatory procedures, including but not limited to motor-sparing lower extremity nerve blocks and phrenic-sparing nerve blocks for shoulder surgeries. The adoption of peripheral nerve block into outpatient surgery is a multidisciplinary effort that encompasses appropriate patient choice, careful selection of nerve blocks that minimize potential adverse events after discharge, and proper patient follow-up until block effects resolve.