Regional anesthesia and pain medicine
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Sep 2003
Clinical TrialIs skin disinfection with 10% povidone iodine sufficient to prevent epidural needle and catheter contamination?
Epidural space infection is a potential complication of epidural catheter placement. In this study, we investigated the incidence of epidural needle and catheter contamination after skin surface disinfection with 10% povidone-iodine (PI). ⋯ Our results suggest that despite skin surface disinfection with PI, there is still significant risk for contamination of needles and catheters during epidural catheterization.
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Ambulatory perineural local anesthetic infusion is a relatively new method for providing postoperative analgesia, and many aspects of this technique remain in the domain of conjecture and speculation. This retrospective chart review and survey was undertaken to investigate patients' opinions on various aspects of their ambulatory perineural infusion experience. ⋯ This investigation suggests that perineural local anesthetic infusion is generally well tolerated by ambulatory patients.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Sep 2003
Case ReportsTransverse myelitis associated with Acinetobacter baumanii intrathecal pump catheter-related infection.
To describe a late neurologic complication of intrathecal pump implantation and show the methods used for the diagnosis and successful treatment of transverse myelitis in this setting. ⋯ Clinicians should recognize transverse myelitis as a possible late complication of intrathecal pump placement. Early medical intervention and removal of the intrathecal pump may be necessary to prevent irreversible spinal cord damage and may support good recovery.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Sep 2003
Clinical TrialPainful paresthesiae are infrequent during brachial plexus localization using low-current peripheral nerve stimulation.
Considerable controversy exists over the relationship of paresthesia to nerve stimulation. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency with which patients report paresthesia at the point that an acceptable motor response is obtained to low-intensity current electrical stimulation. ⋯ Painful paresthesiae should be infrequent when a low-stimulating current is used to identify the neural components of the brachial plexus and when the block needle is advanced slowly. Low-current intensity nerve stimulation can be used to achieve successful interscalene block with minimal discomfort to the patient.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Sep 2003
Computed tomography scanning of the sciatic nerve posterior to the femur: Practical implications for the lateral midfemoral block.
Using computed tomography (CT) scans of the thighs, this study addresses sciatic nerve anatomy at the injection site for the lateral midfemoral sciatic nerve block. It addresses the recommendation of neutral leg rotation to facilitate block placement. ⋯ The characteristics of sciatic nerve anatomy described in this study support observations and clinical recommendations regarding lateral midfemoral sciatic nerve block.