Articles: nerve-block.
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There is a clinical requirement for longer-acting local anesthetics, particularly for the management of post-operative and chronic pain. In this regard, liposomes have been suggested to represent a potentially useful vehicle for sustained drug release after local administration. In the current study, the authors used a transmembrane pH gradient to efficiently encapsulate bupivacaine within large unilamellar vesicles. They report on the kinetics of drug uptake and release and the duration of nerve blockade. ⋯ Large unilamellar vesicles that exhibit a pH gradient can efficiently encapsulate bupivacaine and subsequently provide a sustained-release system that greatly increases the duration of neural blockade.
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Regional anesthesia · Sep 1996
Anatomic considerations for sciatic nerve block in the popliteal fossa through the lateral approach.
The disadvantage of the classic posterior approach to block of the sciatic nerve at the knee level (popliteal nerve block [PNB]) is the need to position a patient in the prone position for performance of the block. In this study on cadavers, a lateral approach to the popliteal nerve in the supine position was investigated, and some anatomic considerations of relevance to popliteal nerve block were addressed. ⋯ A lateral approach to the popliteal nerve with insertion of the needle at a 30 degrees angle relative to the horizontal plane results in predictable approximation of the needle tip to the popliteal nerve. The results also suggest the existence of a continuous neural sheath encompassing the popliteal nerve and its main branches. This may have clinical implications similar to those in perivascular neuronal block.
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Aug 1996
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialContinuous infusion is superior to bolus doses with thoracic paravertebral blocks after thoracotomies.
This study was designed to determine whether a continuous thoracic paravertebral infusion of bupivacaine (continuous TPVI) offers a higher quality of analgesia than a bolus regimen after thoracotomy. ⋯ Results suggest that continuous TPVI provides better pain control than the bolus regimen after this kind of surgery.
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Aug 1996
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialComparative effects of plain and epinephrine-containing bupivacaine on the hemodynamic response to cervical plexus anesthesia in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy.
This study was designed to investigate whether the addition of epinephrine as a vasoconstrictor additive to local anesthetic affects the hemodynamic profile after cervical plexus block in patients presenting for carotid endarterectomy. ⋯ Concerning cervical plexus block with bupivacaine, the use of epinephrine is associated with an increase in heart rate consistent with a beta-adrenergic effect from systemic absorption of the epinephrine. An increase in systolic blood pressure independent of the use of epinephrine also occurs, but epinephrine appears to mitigate against an increase in diastolic blood pressure.