Regional anesthesia and pain medicine
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Nov 2005
Case ReportsPersistent hiccups after attempted interscalene brachial plexus block.
We describe a case of persistent hiccups after attempted interscalene brachial plexus block. ⋯ Persistent hiccups have many postulated causes, including several that are common in the perioperative period, but this is the first time to our knowledge that persistent hiccups have been described in association with attempted interscalene brachial plexus block.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Nov 2005
Nerve blocks at the wrist for carpal tunnel release revisited: the use of sensory-nerve and motor-nerve stimulation techniques.
Because the median nerve at the wrist has mainly sensory endings, the aim of this study was to assess the response of the median nerve to nerve stimulation at the wrist and to evaluate the quality of median nerve block. A control group of patients who received blinded injections was analyzed and compared post hoc. ⋯ This study describes how infrequently an initial motor response is identified when a nerve stimulator is used on the median nerve at the wrist. A very high success rate of median and ulnar nerve block at the wrist is obtained by use of sensory or sensory-motor-nerve stimulation and less than 10 mL of anesthetic solution.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Nov 2005
Vertical infraclavicular block of the brachial plexus: effects on hemidiaphragmatic movement and ventilatory function.
Several case reports have suggested that block of the brachial plexus by the vertical infraclavicular approach influences hemidiaphragmatic movement and ventilatory function. These effects have not been evaluated in a prospective study. ⋯ The vertical infraclavicular block can result in a change in ipsilateral hemidiaphragmatic movement, with a decrease of ventilatory function. Although a correlation between the presence of Horner's syndrome and hemidiaphragmatic dysfunction was observed, hemidiaphragmatic dysfunction also occurred independently.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Nov 2005
Case ReportsThe use of infraorbital nerve block for postoperative pain control after transsphenoidal hypophysectomy.
The transsphenoidal approach for pituitary resection is often used for a suprasellar tumor. The use of infraorbital nerve block for pain control in the postoperative period is described in this case report. ⋯ Bilateral infraorbital nerve blocks may provide adequate pain control following transsphenoidal hypophysectomy. The avoidance of opioids may allow better neurological examination following major neurosurgical procedures.