Regional anesthesia and pain medicine
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Jan 2019
Evaluation of the B-Smart manometer and the CompuFlo computerized injection pump technology for accurate needle-tip injection pressure measurement during peripheral nerve blockade.
The exact mechanism of peripheral nerve blocks causing/leading to nerve injury remains controversial. Evidence from animal experiments suggests that intrafascicular injection resulting in high injection pressure has the potential to rupture nerve fascicles and may consequently cause permanent nerve injury and neurological deficits. The B-Smart (BS) in-line manometer and the CompuFlo (CF) computerized injection pump technology are two modalities used for monitoring pressure during regional anesthesia. This study sought to explore the accuracy of these two technologies in measuring needle-tip pressures in a simulated environment. ⋯ Future research is needed to explore in-vivo performance and evaluate whether either of these devices can impact on clinical outcomes.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Jan 2019
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyA multicenter, randomized comparison between 2, 5, and 8 mg of perineural dexamethasone for ultrasound-guided infraclavicular block.
This multicenter, randomized trial compared 2, 5, and 8 mg of perineural dexamethasone for ultrasound-guided infraclavicular brachial plexus block. Our research hypothesis was that all three doses of dexamethasone would result in equivalent durations of motor block (equivalence margin=3.0 hours). ⋯ 2, 5, and 8 mg of dexamethasone provide clinically equivalent sensorimotor and analgesic durations for ultrasound-guided infraclavicular block. Further trials are required to compare low (ie, 2 mg) and ultra-low (eg, 0.5-1 mg) doses of perineural dexamethasone for brachial plexus blocks.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Jan 2019
Randomized Controlled TrialInfluence of postoperative analgesia on systemic inflammatory response and postoperative cognitive dysfunction after femoral fractures surgery: a randomized controlled trial.
To investigate the possible effect of postoperatively applied analgesics-epidurally applied levobupivacaine or intravenously applied morphine-on systemic inflammatory response and plasma concentration of interleukin (IL)-6 and to determine whether the intensity of inflammatory response is related to postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). ⋯ There is a statistically significant association between use of epidural levobupivacaine and a reduction in some inflammatory markers. Postoperative patient-controlled epidural analgesia reduces the incidence of POCD compared with intravenous morphine analgesia in the studied population.
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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.