Articles: nerve-block.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Femoral nerve block with bupivacaine 0.25 per cent for postoperative analgesia after open knee surgery.
An assessment was made, in a randomised double-blind fashion, of the pain relief afforded by femoral nerve block (FNB) performed at the end of ligament reconstruction of the knee, using 0.25 per cent bupivacaine in ten patients, and normal saline in ten patients. All patients commenced "continuous passive motion" (CPM) of the operated knee after arrival in the Recovery Room. The postoperative analgesic requirement, both for intravenous fentanyl in the Recovery Room, and intramuscular and oral analgesia on the ward, was then studied. ⋯ The bupivacaine group also required significantly less intravenous fentanyl in the Recovery Room. On the ward, there was no difference between the two groups in the total dose of intramuscular meperidine given in the first 12 hours postoperatively. We conclude that femoral nerve block is a useful adjunct in pain management after ligament reconstruction of the knee, especially in the early postoperative period, but does not decrease the total intramuscular dose of analgesia in the first 12 postoperative hours.
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A case of transient sympathetic block of the arm following percutaneous intercostal nerve injections is described and the possible aetiology discussed.
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The aim of this study was to demonstrate that the under-used technique of femoral nerve block (F. N. B.) (Berry, 1977) has excellent analgesic action for femoral shaft fractures when performed by junior staff. ⋯ N. B. using a different agent (10 ml 0.5% bupivacaine) was performed and the same parameters were assessed. Both agents gave effective analgesia of varying duration at all levels of fracture site.
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Twenty-one patients scheduled to undergo thoracotomy or median sternotomy had intercostal catheters inserted pre-operatively. During thoracotomy, under direct vision, the spread of 20 ml of a solution containing bupivacaine and methylene blue was followed. ⋯ In three cases, dye was seen crossing the anterior surface of the vertebrae to reach the contralateral aspect. It is concluded that a major component of dermatomal block during intercostal catheterisations may be secondary to paravertebral spread.