Regional anesthesia and pain medicine
-
Reg Anesth Pain Med · Jan 2019
Lower extremity regional anesthesia: essentials of our current understanding.
The advent of ultrasound guidance has led to a renewed interest in regional anesthesia of the lower limb. In keeping with the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine's ongoing commitment to provide intensive evidence-based education, this article presents a complete update of the 2005 comprehensive review on lower extremity peripheral nerve blocks. The current review article strives to (1) summarize the pertinent anatomy of the lumbar and sacral plexuses, (2) discuss the optimal approaches and techniques for lower limb regional anesthesia, (3) present evidence to guide the selection of pharmacological agents and adjuvants, (4) describe potential complications associated with lower extremity nerve blocks, and (5) identify informational gaps pertaining to outcomes, which warrant further investigation.
-
Reg Anesth Pain Med · Jan 2019
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyEffect of local anesthetic volume (20 mL vs 30 mL ropivacaine) on electromyography of the diaphragm and pulmonary function after ultrasound-guided supraclavicular brachial plexus block: a randomized controlled trial.
Diaphragmatic paralysis following supraclavicular brachial plexus block (SCBPB) is ascribed to phrenic nerve palsy. This study investigated the effect of 2 volumes of 0.375% ropivacaine on efficacy of block as a surgical anesthetic and as an analgesic and examined diaphragm compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) and pulmonary function before and after SCBPB. ⋯ The incidence rates of phrenic nerve palsy and diaphragm paralysis were reduced, and lung function was less impaired in patients who received 20 mL vs 30 mL of 0.375% ropivacaine without any differences in block success. Selecting a lower volume of anesthetic for nerve block may be especially beneficial in obese patients or patients with cardiopulmonary disease.
-
Reg Anesth Pain Med · Jan 2019
RNA expression preoperatively and postoperatively following total knee replacement: a pilot study in patients with and without chronic postsurgical pain.
Differences in gene expression may provide insight into the biological pathways involved in chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP). We compared blood RNA microarrays preoperatively and postoperatively following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in patients with and without CPSP. ⋯ Despite a lack of clinical differences, patients who develop CPSP have upregulated pain pathways preoperatively; however, only the chemokine pathway remained differentially upregulated at 6 months postsurgery.
-
Reg Anesth Pain Med · Jan 2019
ReviewImpact of perioperative pain management on cancer recurrence: an ASRA/ESRA special article.
Cancer causes considerable suffering and 80% of advanced cancer patients experience moderate to severe pain. Surgical tumor excision remains a cornerstone of primary cancer treatment, but is also recognized as one of the greatest risk factors for metastatic spread. ⋯ In the perioperative period, anesthesiologists may have a brief and uniquewindow of opportunity to modulate the unwanted consequences of the stressresponse on the immune system and minimize residual disease. This reviewdiscusses the current research on analgesic therapies and their impact ondisease progression, followed by an evidence-based evaluation of perioperativepain interventions and medications.
-
Reg Anesth Pain Med · Jan 2019
Clinical TrialSelf-reported cumulative medical opioid exposure and subjective responses on first use of opioids predict analgesic and subjective responses to placebo-controlled opioid administration.
To expand the evidence base needed to enable personalized pain medicine, we evaluated whether self-reported cumulative exposure to medical opioids and subjective responses on first opioid use predicted responses to placebo-controlled opioid administration. ⋯ Self-reports of past exposure and responses to medical opioid analgesics may have utility for predicting subsequent analgesic responses and subjective effects. Further research is needed to establish the potential clinical and research utility of the HOME.