Journal of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia
-
J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Feb 2018
Ultrasound-Guided Interscalene Brachial Plexus Nerve Block With an Ultralow Volume of Local Anesthetic for Post-Thoracotomy Shoulder Girdle Pain.
To evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound-guided interscalene nerve block using an ultralow volume of local anesthetic (5 mL of ropivacaine, 0.75%) for the management of post-thoracotomy shoulder girdle pain. ⋯ Ultrasound-guided interscalene nerve block can substantially alleviate post-thoracotomy pain in the shoulder but not in the scapular area.
-
J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Feb 2018
Copeptin Release in Cardiac Surgery-A New Biomarker to Identify Risk Patients?
To describe the dynamics of copeptin in open cardiac surgery during the perioperative course. ⋯ Regardless of cardiac surgical procedure and perioperative course, all patients had an early significant rise of copeptin concentrations, generally peaking at weaning from CBP or upon arrival in the intensive care unit. Among patients with normal copeptin concentration preoperatively and uneventful course, the postoperative copeptin concentrations decreased to normal values within 3-to-4 days after cardiac surgery. Furthermore, the restricted "normal cohort" generally tended to display lower levels of copeptin concentration postoperatively. Further studies may evaluate whether copeptin can be a tool in identifying risk patients in cardiac surgery.