Current opinion in anaesthesiology
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Oct 2022
ReviewCerebral metabolic derangements following traumatic brain injury.
Outcome following traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains variable, and derangements in cerebral metabolism are a common finding in patients with poor outcome. This review compares our understanding of cerebral metabolism in health with derangements seen following TBI. ⋯ Mitochondrial dysfunction and the use of alternative energy substrates are potential therapeutic targets, but improved understanding of the causes, impact and significance of metabolic derangements in clinical TBI are needed. Maintaining adequate oxygen and glucose delivery across the injured brain may accelerate the recovery of mitochondrial function and cerebral energy metabolism and remain important management targets.
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This article aims to summarize the current literature describing the application of erector spinae plane (ESP) blocks for regional anesthesia of upper and lower limbs and to discuss the advantages and limitations. ⋯ High thoracic and lumbar ESP blocks have the potential to provide adequate analgesia of the upper and lower limbs respectively, without causing significant motor block. They are thus alternative methods of regional anesthesia when other techniques are not feasible or have undesirable adverse effects.
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Complex spinal surgery is associated with significant postoperative pain. The purpose of this paper is to review recent literature on postoperative pain management in adult and adolescent patients having complex spinal surgery. ⋯ Pain management after complex spinal surgery remains challenging. Therefore, further studies are still required to determine the optimal multimodal analgesic regimen for these patients.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Oct 2022
ReviewA modern roadmap for the use of simulation in regional anesthesiology training.
A variety of educational modalities are used to teach regional anesthesia. Simulation is an educational tool that facilitates hands-on learning in a well tolerated, reproducible environment, eliminating potential harm to patients during the process of learning. Available literature and expert consensus statements support customizing simulation programs according to the level of training and experience of the learners. ⋯ This review presents recommendations for the use of simulation for residents, fellows, practicing anesthesiologists without formal training in regional anesthesia, and practicing anesthesiologists with regional anesthesia expertise. Passports and portfolio programs that include simulation can be used to verify training. Virtual applications of simulation are growing, expanding the scope of regional anesthesia simulation and increasing access to lower resource areas.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Oct 2022
ReviewUse of regional analgesia to prevent the conversion from acute to chronic pain.
Chronic post-surgical pain (CPSP) prevalence has not changed over the past decades what questions the efficacy of preventive strategies. Regional analgesia is used to control acute pain, but preventive effect on CPSP remains debated. Failures and future application of regional analgesia to prevent transition from acute to chronic pain will be discussed. ⋯ Regional analgesia failure to prevent CPSP development should prompt us to reconsider its perioperative utilization. Patients' stratification, for example high-pain responders, might help to target those who will most benefit of regional analgesia. The impact of regional analgesia on secondary pain-related outcomes such as intensity and neuropathic character despite no difference on CPSP incidence requires more studies. Finally, the preventive effect of regional analgesia targeted interventions on CPSP in patients suffering from severe subacute pain deserves to be assessed.