Acta clinica Croatica
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Acta clinica Croatica · Sep 2022
ReviewCONTEMPORARY RECOMMENDATIONS ON PATIENT BLOOD MANAGEMENT IN JOINT ARTHROPLASTY.
Hip and knee replacement surgery are a common and effective procedure for the relief of pain and loss of function. The number of procedures is increasing and great interest is given how to improve outcome following hip and knee replacement surgery. Last two decades have been characterized by many innovations in hip and knee replacement surgery including minimally invasive technique but also by improvements in anesthetic technique and blood management. ⋯ The recent data of advantages of blood management for every patient are outlined. Blood management include preoperative preparation, use of autologous blood in perioperative period and administration of drugs for minimizing intraoperative blood loss. The final result of improvements in blood management is reducing in blood loss and need for allogeneic blood and significant reduction in perioperative morbidity.
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In 10% to 30% cancer-pain cases standard analgesic therapy fails to provide effective pain relief. Interventional techniques, such as peripheral nerve blocks, neuraxial analgesia along with neurolytic blocks may be used for such refractory pain. Peripheral nerve blocks can be used when pain occurs in the territory of one or more peripheral nerves, but rarely as main therapy. ⋯ Neurolysis is the targeted destruction of a nerve or nerve plexus, using chemicals, radiofrequency ablation (RFA), cryoablation, and neurosurgical procedures; however, it rarely completely eliminates pain because patients frequently experience coexisting somatic and neuropathic pain as well. Complex conditions of palliative patients along with limited high-quality randomized controlled trials limit the use of interventional procedures. Even so, some cancer patients benefit from interventional procedures to achieve pain alleviation and consequently improve quality of life.
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The aim of this review article is to introduce a newer approach to multimodal anesthesia. In addition to the usual combination of epidural catheter and general anesthesia as standard techniques in surgical procedures accompanied by intense postoperative pain, we want to encourage reflection on the application of various regional techniques in equally complex surgical conditions. By simply modifying the standard neuraxial technique with a higher thoracic approach, excellent abdominal surgery can be performed to awake the patient. ⋯ It has been confirmed that PVB, ESPB, RLB blocks act on visceral and somatic pain. Therefore, their ultrasound-guided use in laparoscopic and other abdominal surgeries may be useful. With a well-designed fusion of regional techniques in operations of the upper and lower abdomen, it is possible to achieve hemodynamically and respiratory stable anesthesia in an awake patient with reduced postoperative pain.
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Acta clinica Croatica · Sep 2022
ReviewGLOSSOPHARYNGEAL NERVE AS A SOURCE OF OROFACIAL PAIN - DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC CHALLENGES.
Chronic neuropathic orofacial pain along with physical suffering can cause emotional, psychological and social difficulties, which significantly affects the quality of life of patients. Pain in the area of glossopharyngeal nerve innervation, especially chronic neuropathic, is relatively rare, but is significant because of the great suffering it causes to sufferers. ⋯ It is necessary to look for the etiology of the underlying disease, and if possible, to take adequate causal treatment. This review article discusses the etiology, clinical features, differential diagnosis, and treatment modalities of neuropathic pain in the area of glossopharyngeal nerve innervation.
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Acta clinica Croatica · Sep 2022
ReviewPERIPHERAL NERVE BLOCKS IN PATIENTS ON ANTITHROMBOTIC DRUGS - A RESCUE OR AN UNNECESSARY RISK?
Bleeding complications after peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs) in patients treated with an antiplatelet agent and/or an anticoagulant drug are rare, with estimated incidence of 0.67% (0.51-0.83%). However, they can result in significant patient morbidity and may require follow-up investigations and interventions. The evidence for bleeding risks and complications after PNB is very low or nonexistent, therefore, recommendations and guidelines are based on retrospective analyses, case reports, expert opinions and expert panel consensus. ⋯ A bleeding risk should be minimized with the optimization of patient's coagulation: appropriate antithrombotic drug timing before PNB, dose of antithrombotic drug, indication for the drug and risk factors that may influence drug pharmacokinetics (bodyweight, age, renal and hepatic function). Superficial PNBs may be performed in the presence of antithrombotic drug. For deep PNBs, a recommendations for neuraxial procedures should be considered.