Regional anesthesia and pain medicine
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Oct 2018
Randomized Controlled TrialSelective Suprascapular and Axillary Nerve Block Versus Interscalene Plexus Block for Pain Control After Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery: A Noninferiority Randomized Parallel-Controlled Clinical Trial.
This randomized trial aimed to assess if a combined suprascapular-axillary nerve block (SSB) is noninferior (margin = 1.3 on a 0- to 10-point scale) to interscalene block (ISB) in treating pain after arthroscopic shoulder surgery. Secondary end points included opioid consumption, dyspnea, discomfort associated with muscle weakness, and patient satisfaction. ⋯ This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT02415088.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Oct 2018
ReviewGastric Ultrasound for the Regional Anesthesiologist and Pain Specialist.
This article in our series on point-of-care ultrasound (US) for the regional anesthesiologist and pain management specialist describes the emerging role of gastric ultrasonography. Although gastric US is a relatively new point-of-care US application in the perioperative setting, its relevance for the regional anesthesiologist and pain specialist is significant as our clinical practice often involves providing deep sedation without a secured airway. Given that pulmonary aspiration is a well-known cause of perioperative morbidity and mortality, the ability to evaluate for NPO (nil per os) status and risk stratify patients scheduled for anesthesia is a powerful skill set. ⋯ In this review, we will cover the relevant scanning technique and the desired views for gastric US. We provide a methodology for interpretation of findings and for guiding medical management for adult patients. We also summarize the current literature on specific patient populations including obstetrics, pediatrics, and severely obese subjects.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Nov 2018
Pectoral Block Failure May Be Due to Incomplete Coverage of Anatomical Targets: A Dissection Study.
The popularization of ultrasound-guided nerve blocks in cosmetic and reconstructive breast surgery calls for better anatomical understanding of chest wall innervation. When inserting subpectoral implants, pain from pocket dissection, stretching of muscle, and release of costal attachments may be relieved by blocking the pectoral nerves in the interpectoral (IP) space.We describe the variable anatomy of the pectoral nerves in the IP space in order to define the area to be covered for sufficient blockade, based on cadaver dissections. ⋯ The MPN branches that innervate the lower part of the pectoralis major muscle are asymmetrical and variable in location and length; all located in a triangular area easily defined by sonographic landmarks, lateral to the TAA.
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Fascia iliaca block or femoral nerve block is used frequently in hip fracture patients because of their opioid-sparing effects and reduction in opioid-related adverse effects. A recent anatomical study on hip innervation led to the identification of relevant landmarks to target the hip articular branches of femoral nerve and accessory obturator nerve. Using this information, we developed a novel ultrasound-guided approach for blockade of these articular branches to the hip, the PENG (PEricapsular Nerve Group) block. In this report, we describe the technique and its application in 5 consecutive patients.