Regional anesthesia and pain medicine
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Nov 2018
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyUltrasound-Guided Infraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block: Prospective Randomized Comparison of the Lateral Sagittal and Costoclavicular Approach.
It has recently been proposed that an infraclavicular brachial plexus block (BPB) at the costoclavicular (CC) space may overcome some of the limitations of the lateral sagittal (LS) approach. In this study, we hypothesized that the CC approach will produce faster onset of sensory blockade of the 4 major terminal nerves of the brachial plexus than the LS approach. ⋯ This study was registered at the Centre for Clinical Trials of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, identifier CUHK_CCT00389.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Nov 2018
Improving Clinical Proficiency Using a 3-Dimensionally Printed and Patient-Specific Thoracic Spine Model as a Haptic Task Trainer.
Advanced haptic simulators for neuraxial training are expensive, have a finite life, and are not patient specific. We sought to demonstrate the feasibility of developing a custom-made, low-cost, 3-dimensionally printed thoracic spine simulator model from patient computed tomographic scan data. This study assessed the model's practicality, efficiency as a teaching tool, and the transfer of skill set into patient care. ⋯ By using patient-specific, 3-dimensionally printed, thoracic spine models, we demonstrated a significant improvement in clinical proficiency as compared with traditional teaching models.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Nov 2018
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyUltrasound-Guided Selective Versus Conventional Block of the Medial Brachial Cutaneous and the Intercostobrachial Nerves: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
For superficial surgery of anteromedial and posteromedial surfaces of the upper arm, the medial brachial cutaneous nerve (MBCN) and the intercostobrachial nerve (ICBN) must be selectively blocked, in addition to an axillary brachial plexus block. We compared efficacy of ultrasound-guided (USG) versus conventional block of the MBCN and the ICBN. ⋯ This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT02940847.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Nov 2018
ReviewEsmolol, Antinociception, and Its Potential Opioid-Sparing Role in Routine Anesthesia Care.
β-Adrenergic blockade is an important mechanism for reducing morbidity and mortality in patients with hypertension and heart failure. Esmolol has been used widely for its chronotropic and antihypertensive effects. However, there has been recent inquiry regarding perioperative esmolol use and nociceptive modulation. ⋯ Esmolol, to date, has not shown any direct analgesic or anesthetic properties; however, recent studies suggest that esmolol may have antinociceptive and postoperative opioid-sparing effects. In this Daring Discourse narrative, we describe the role of esmolol in current perioperative β-blockade guidelines (related to noncardiac surgery), briefly describe studies supporting the antinociceptive effects of esmolol, propose mechanisms for esmolol antinociception, and forecast potential routine esmolol use intraoperatively (as part of a multimodal total intravenous anesthetic) and its effects on opioid sparing. The reading audience of regional anesthesiologists and acute pain medicine physicians is uniquely positioned to take a lead role in promulgating this care advance amid (i) the unwanted effects of the opioid epidemic and (ii) the uncertain notion of whether routine general anesthesia care (with fentanyl) may indirectly be contributing to the epidemic.