Regional anesthesia and pain medicine
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Jul 2015
Randomized Controlled TrialAddition of Dexamethasone and Buprenorphine to Bupivacaine Sciatic Nerve Block: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Sciatic nerve block provides analgesia after foot and ankle surgery, but block duration may be insufficient. We hypothesized that perineural dexamethasone and buprenorphine would reduce pain scores at 24 hours. ⋯ Pain scores were very low at 24 hours after surgery in the context of multimodal analgesia and were not improved by additives. However, perineural buprenorphine and dexamethasone prolonged block duration, reduced the worst pain experienced, and reduced opioid use. Intravenous buprenorphine caused troubling nausea and vomiting. Future research is needed to confirm and extend these observations.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Jul 2015
Randomized Controlled TrialCutaneous Sensory Block Area, Muscle-Relaxing Effect, and Block Duration of the Transversus Abdominis Plane Block: A Randomized, Blinded, and Placebo-Controlled Study in Healthy Volunteers.
The transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is a widely used nerve block. However, basic block characteristics are poorly described. The purpose of this study was to assess the cutaneous sensory block area, muscle-relaxing effect, and block duration. ⋯ Cutaneous sensory block area of the TAP block is predominantly located lateral to a vertical line through the anterior superior iliac spine. The distribution is nondermatomal and does not cross the midline. The muscle-relaxing effect is significant and consistent. The block duration is approximately 10 hours with large variation.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Jul 2015
Comparative StudyMultimodal Analgesic Protocol and Postanesthesia Respiratory Depression During Phase I Recovery After Total Joint Arthroplasty.
Multimodal analgesia protocols have shortened hospitalizations after total joint arthroplasty. It is unclear whether individual components of these protocols are associated with respiratory depression during phase I postanesthesia recovery. ⋯ Use of medications with long-acting sedative potential was associated with increased risk of respiratory depression during phase I anesthesia recovery. These effects were more pronounced when used in conjunction with general anesthesia than with neuraxial anesthesia.