Articles: nerve-block.
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Curr Pain Headache Rep · Feb 2021
ReviewA Comprehensive Update of the Superior Hypogastric Block for the Management of Chronic Pelvic Pain.
This is a comprehensive review of the superior hypogastric block for the management of chronic pelvic pain. It reviews the background, including etiology, epidemiology, and current treatment available for chronic pelvic pain. It then presents the superior hypogastric block and reviews the seminal and most recent evidence about its use in chronic pelvic pain. ⋯ Several definitions exist for chronic pelvic pain (CPP), making the diagnosis more challenging for the clinician; however, they commonly describe continuous pain lasting 6 months in the pelvis, with an overwhelming majority of patients being reproductive-aged women. This pain is often one of mechanical, inflammatory, or neuropathic. It is generally underdiagnosed and affects anywhere between 5 and 26% of women. The diagnosis of chronic pelvic pain is clinical, consisting of mainly of a thorough history and physical and ruling out other causes. The pathophysiology is often endometriosis (70%) and also includes PID, adhesions, adenomyosis, uterine fibroids, chronic processes of the GI and urinary tracts, as well as pelvic-intrinsic musculoskeletal causes. Treatment includes physical therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and oral and parenteral opioids. Interventional techniques provide an added tier of treatment and may help to reduce the requirement for chronic opioid use. Superior hypogastric plexus block is one of the available interventional techniques; first described in 1990, it has been shown to provide long-lasting relief in 50-70% of patients who underwent the procedure. Two approaches described so far, both under fluoroscopy, have seen similar results. More recently, ultrasound and CT-guided procedures have also been described with similar success. The injectate includes local anesthetic, steroids, and neurolytic agents such as phenol or ethanol. CPP is a common debilitating condition. It is diagnosed clinically and is underdiagnosed globally. Current treatments can be helpful at times but may fall short of satisfactory pain relief. Interventional techniques provide an added layer of treatment as well as reduce the requirement for opioids. Superior hypogastric plexus block provides long-lasting relief in many patients, regardless of approach. Evidence level is limited, and further RCTs could help provide better tools for evaluation and patient selection.
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In this case report, we described the use of the continuous erector spinae plane (ESP) block in a patient presenting with severe chest wall pain due to terminal metastatic breast cancer. Her pain was refractory to most treatment modalities despite being on huge doses of parenteral opioids for 6 months. ⋯ This was followed by an ESP catheter insertion and continuous infusion of local anesthetic, which helped her wean off the parenteral opioids over the next 4 days. She was discharged home with the catheter in situ, attached to a delivery pump.
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Meta Analysis
Analgesic efficacy and safety of erector spinae plane block in breast cancer surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Surgical resection is considered to be the primary and most effective therapy for breast cancer, postoperative pain is an issue gaining significant attention. In recent years, erector spinae plane block (ESPB) has attracted much attention in postoperative analgesia, but its effectiveness is still controversial. This meta-analysis was implemented to verify the clinical analgesic efficacy and safety of erector spinae plane block in patients undergoing breast cancer surgery. ⋯ Ultrasound-guided ESPB is an effective approach for reducing morphine consumption and pain intensity within the first 24 h after breast cancer surgery, compared with GA alone.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Anesthetic effect of ultrasound-guided multiple-nerve blockade in modified radical mastectomy in patients with breast cancer.
Routine anesthesia modality for modified radical mastectomy (MRM) includes general anesthesia (GA), epidural blockade-combined GA and nerve blockade-combined GA. However, GA has been associated with postoperative adverse effects such as vertigo, postoperative nausea and vomiting and requirement for postoperative analgesia, which hinders recovery and prognosis. Moreover, combined blockade of thoracic paravertebral nerves or intercostal nerves and adjuvant basic sedation for massive lumpectomy provided perfect anesthesia and reduced opioid consumption, whereas the excision coverage did not attain the target of MRM. Regional anesthesia strategies involving supplementation of analgesics in ultrasound-guided multiple nerve blocks have garnered interests of clinicians. Nevertheless, the precise effects of intercostal nerves, brachial plexus and supraclavicular nerves in MRM in patients with breast cancer remain obscure. ⋯ The ultrasound guided multiple intercostal nerve blocks, brachial plexus and supraclavicular nerve blocks could provide favorable anesthesia and analgesia, with noninferiority to GA and the reduced incidence of adverse effects and consumption of postoperative analgesics.