Regional anesthesia and pain medicine
-
Reg Anesth Pain Med · Mar 2010
ReviewThe effect of stimulating versus nonstimulating catheter techniques for continuous regional anesthesia: a semiquantitative systematic review.
Stimulating catheters provide feedback regarding the location of the catheter tip in relation to the target nerve or plexus. There is debate concerning whether stimulating catheters may reduce the failure rate of postoperative analgesia or whether they may enhance functional recovery by providing superior and more reliable postoperative analgesia. ⋯ Published reports of randomized controlled trials provide evidence for a better analgesic effect from stimulating catheters. Future trials should be conducted in a standardized manner with uniform reporting of outcomes, which may facilitate future quantitative analysis.
-
Reg Anesth Pain Med · Mar 2010
ReviewUltrasound and review of evidence for lower extremity peripheral nerve blocks.
This qualitative systematic review summarizes existing evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing ultrasound (US) to alternative techniques for lower extremity peripheral nerve block. There were 11 RCTs of sufficient quality for inclusion. Jadad scores ranged from 1 to 4 with a median of 3. ⋯ In 2 studies, the optimal peripheral nerve stimulation technique may have not been used, resulting in a potential bias. No RCT reported US as inferior to alternative techniques in any outcome. There is level Ib evidence to make a grade A recommendation that US guidance provides improvements in onset and success of sensory block, a decrease in local anesthetic requirements, and decreased time to perform lower extremity peripheral nerve blocks.
-
Reg Anesth Pain Med · Mar 2010
Randomized Controlled TrialWound spread of radiolabeled saline with multi- versus few-hole catheters.
Continuous wound infusion of local anesthetics is effective in postoperative pain management and may be useful in major joint arthroplasty, but the optimal technique for postoperative administration of local anesthetics in the wound awaits trials evaluating the optimal type of catheter (single-, few-, or multiholed catheters). ⋯ Wound spread of a bolus injection through 15-cm multiholed catheters versus triple-orifice epidural catheters is similar with subfascial catheter placement in total hip arthroplasty. Procedure-specific trials are required to evaluate the analgesic efficacy of postoperative administration of local anesthetic in the wound with different types of catheter before general recommendations can be made.
-
Severe, systemic local anesthetic toxicity is arguably the most feared complication of regional anesthesia. A combination of old and new therapies is recommended to reduce the morbidity and mortality of symptomatic local anesthetic overdose. Prevention remains the criterion standard for improving patient safety during regional anesthesia. ⋯ Lipid infusion should be considered early, and the treating physician should be familiar with the method. We also recommend avoiding vasopressin and using epinephrine only in small doses. Vigilance, preparedness, and quick action will improve outcomes of this dreaded complication.
-
Reg Anesth Pain Med · Mar 2010
ReviewClinical presentation of local anesthetic systemic toxicity: a review of published cases, 1979 to 2009.
The classic description of local anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST) generally described in textbooks includes a series of progressively worsening neurologic symptoms and signs occurring shortly after the injection of local anesthetic and paralleling progressive increases in blood local anesthetic concentration, culminating in seizures and coma. In extreme cases, signs of hemodynamic instability follow and can lead to cardiovascular collapse. To characterize the clinical spectrum of LAST and compare it to the classic picture described above, we reviewed published reports of LAST during a 30-year period from 1979 to 2009. ⋯ However, in the remainder of cases, symptoms were substantially delayed after the injection of local anesthetic, or involved only signs of cardiovascular compromise, with no evidence of central nervous system toxicity. Although information gained from retrospective case review cannot establish incidence, outcomes, or comparative efficacies of treatment, it can improve awareness of the clinical spectrum of LAST and, theoretically, the diagnosis and treatment of affected patients. The analytic limitations of our method make a strong case for developing a prospective, global registry of LAST as a robust alternative for educating practitioners and optimizing management of LAST.