Current opinion in anaesthesiology
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Oct 2014
ReviewWhat's new in the management of traumatic brain injury on neuro ICU?
In recent years, we have begun to better understand how to monitor the injured brain, look for less common complications and importantly, reduce unnecessary and potentially harmful intervention. However, the lack of consensus regarding triggers for intervention, best neuromonitoring techniques and standardization of therapeutic approach is in need of more careful study. This review covers the most recent evidence within this exciting and dynamic field. ⋯ Neurocritical care management of traumatic brain injury continues to evolve. However, it is important not to use a 'one-treatment-fits-all' approach, and perhaps look to use targeted therapies to individualize treatment.
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Postoperative pain remains poorly treated in many patients. One reason is the inadequate use of nonopioid analgesics. This review examines the most recent findings on nonopioid analgesics and how these translate into clinical practice. ⋯ Nonopioid analgesics are important components of multimodal postoperative analgesia. The selection of the most appropriate compound for an individual patient can be based more and more on ever increasing data on these important analgesics.
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To explore the recent advances in the use of ultrasound for lower extremity blocks, including approaches to the lumbar and sacral plexus blocks. ⋯ Lower extremity blocks under ultrasound guidance often require advanced skills because of the depth of target nerves. This review summarizes the recent advances in the use of ultrasound guidance over traditional techniques.
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Pain following total knee arthroplasty is a challenging task for healthcare providers. Concurrently, fast recovery and early ambulation are required to regain function and to prevent postoperative complications. Ideal postoperative analgesia provides sufficient pain relief with minimal opioid consumption and preservation of motor strength. Regional analgesia techniques are broadly used to answer these expectations. Femoral nerve blocks are performed frequently but have suggested disadvantages, such as motor weakness. The use of lumbar epidurals is questioned because of the risk of epidural hematoma. Relatively new techniques, such as local infiltration analgesia or adductor canal blocks, are increasingly discussed. The present review discusses new findings and weight between known benefits and risks of all of these techniques for total knee arthroplasty. ⋯ Femoral nerve blocks are still the gold standard for an effective analgesia approach in knee arthroplasty and should be supplemented (if needed) by oral opioids. An additional sciatic nerve blockade is still controversial and should be an individual decision. Large-scale studies are needed to reinforce the promising results of newer regional techniques, such as local infiltration analgesia and adductor canal block.