Regional anesthesia and pain medicine
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · May 2000
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialEffects of immediately initiating an epidural infusion in the combined spinal and epidural technique in nulliparous parturients.
Intrathecal fentanyl with bupivacaine provides rapid labor analgesia of limited duration. We investigated the effect of initiating an epidural infusion of 0.1% ropivacaine with fentanyl 2 microg/mL and epinephrine 1:400,000 (REF) on the duration of analgesia and incidence of side effects after intrathecal injection in the combined spinal and epidural technique. ⋯ Initiating an infusion of REF prolongs the duration of analgesia, but also results in a greater decrease in blood pressure. Despite this effect on blood pressure, there was no difference in ephedrine use.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · May 2000
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialBupivacaine-sparing effect of fentanyl in spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery.
Visceral pain decreases in cesarean patients under spinal anesthesia when the dose of local anesthetic is increased. However, larger doses of local anesthetic are associated with higher sensory blocks. We hypothesized that the addition of fentanyl could reduce the dose of bupivacaine necessary to achieve adequate surgical anesthesia. ⋯ The optimal dose of hyperbaric bupivacaine to produce surgical anesthesia was 12 mg, which was accompanied by high sensory block. With the addition of 10 microg of fentanyl, the dose of bupivacaine could be reduced to 8 mg in spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · May 2000
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialA randomized comparison of the effects of continuous thoracic epidural analgesia and intravenous patient-controlled analgesia after posterior spinal fusion in adolescents.
Pain and gastrointestinal dysfunction are primary factors that delay recovery after posterior spinal fusion. Previous reports suggest that the choice of analgesic management may effect the course of recovery. This prospective, randomized study compared continuous thoracic epidural analgesia and patient-controlled analgesia in the postoperative care of adolescents undergoing posterior spinal fusion for idiopathic scoliosis. ⋯ Continuous epidural analgesia and patient-controlled analgesia are comparably effective and safe after posterior spinal fusion. Return of bowel sounds occurred significantly more rapidly in patients receiving CEA postoperatively.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · May 2000
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialProcaine compared with lidocaine for incidence of transient neurologic symptoms.
Transient neurologic symptoms (TNS) have been reported to occur after 16% to 40% of ambulatory lidocaine spinal anesthetics. Patient discomfort and the possibility of underlying lidocaine neurotoxicity have prompted a search for alternative local anesthetic agents. We compared the incidence of TNS with procaine or lidocaine spinal anesthesia in a 2:1 dose ratio. ⋯ The incidence of TNS was substantially lower with procaine than with lidocaine. However, procaine resulted in a lower overall quality of anesthesia and a prolonged average discharge time. If the shortfalls of procaine as studied can be overcome, it may provide a suitable alternative to lidocaine for outpatient spinal anesthesia to minimize the risk of TNS.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · May 2000
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialZiconotide, a new N-type calcium channel blocker, administered intrathecally for acute postoperative pain.
Voltage-sensitive calcium channel conductance is essential for the nervous system to signal a painful event. However, intrathecal administration of L-type calcium channel blockers does not provide analgesia. The present investigation was designed to assess the safety and analgesic efficacy of ziconotide, a new N-type calcium channel blocker, when administered intrathecally to patients with acute postoperative pain. ⋯ Ziconotide showed analgesic activity, as shown by decreased PCA morphine equivalent consumption and lower VASPI scores. Because of a favorable trend of decreased morphine consumption with an acceptable side-effect profile in the low-dose ziconotide group, 0.7 microg/h may be closer to the ideal dose than 7 microg/h. Large-scale studies are required to clarify this issue.