Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain
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This report describes a pontine hemorrhage in a patient following implantation of an intrathecal drug delivery system. ⋯ This case emphasizes several important points. First, changes in neurologic and mental status after initiating intrathecal drug therapy may be related to new or pre-existing pathology and not due to intrathecal medications. Second, consideration should be given to central nervous system imaging before intrathecal pump insertion in patients with widely metastatic malignancies. Finally, cerebral spinal fluid hypotension from dural puncture may have contributed to the timing of the hemorrhage in this patient.
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Targeted ventral epidural steroid injection with a transforaminal approach has been widely used for the treatment of nerve root inflammation and pain. Lumbar interlaminar approach is also commonly used; however, ventral epidural injection may not be obtained properly. Lumbar interlaminar ventral epidural (LIVE) injection can be achieved as the epidural catheter is placed at the ventrolateral side of the nerve root. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the contrast dispersal pattern with LIVE injection. ⋯ The data showed excellent spread of contrast into the nerve root and the ventral epidural space in all patients. There were no inadvertent vascular or neural complications. LIVE approach can be an alternative way to achieve targeted ventral epidural injection.
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Case Reports
Spinal cord stimulation as a novel approach to the treatment of refractory neuropathic mediastinal pain.
Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) offers new hope for patients with neuropathic pain. SCS "neuromodulates" the transmission and response to "painful" stimuli. ⋯ Recent publications suggest that visceral pain could be successfully treated with SCS. We report the first successful use of a spinal cord stimulator in the treatment of refractory neuropathic mediastinal, esophageal, and anterior neck pain following esophagogastrectomy.
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Four cases of ischemic injury have been reported in patients undergoing orthopedic surgery in the upright position. We describe the use of cerebral oximetry as a monitor of the adequacy of cerebral perfusion in a 63-year-old woman who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff surgery in a beach chair under general anesthesia. ⋯ When spontaneous ventilation resumed, an increase in end-tidal carbon dioxide was accompanied by an increase in S(ct)O(2). Cerebral oximetry may prove useful as a guide monitor and manage nonsupine patients.