Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthésie
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Review Meta Analysis Comparative Study
Is sciatic nerve block advantageous when combined with femoral nerve block for postoperative analgesia following total knee arthroplasty? a meta-analysis.
Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is associated with moderate-to-severe postoperative pain despite the use of femoral nerve block (FNB). The analgesic benefits of adding sciatic nerve block (SNB) to FNB following TKA are unclear. The aim of this meta-analysis was to quantify the analgesic effects of adding SNB to FNB following TKA. ⋯ The available evidence supporting the analgesic benefits of adding SNB to FNB following TKA is marked by significant heterogeneity. With this challenge in mind, our meta-analysis suggests that SNB can significantly reduce postoperative opioid consumption and diminish knee pain following TKA compared to no SNB in the setting of FNB.
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New regulations are in place at the federal and provincial levels in Canada regarding the way medical cannabis is to be controlled. We present them together with guidance for the safe use of medical cannabis and recent clinical trials on cannabis and pain. ⋯ The science of medical cannabis and the need for education of healthcare professionals and patients require continued effort. Although cannabinoids work to decrease pain, there is still a need to confirm these beneficial effects clinically and to exploit them with acceptable benefit-to-risk ratios.