Regional anesthesia and pain medicine
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · May 2019
Upper trunk block for shoulder analgesia with potential phrenic nerve sparing: a preliminary anatomical report.
Ipsilateral phrenic nerve palsy (PNP) is an undesirable side of conventional approaches to interscalene brachial plexus blocks. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate whether or not the phrenic nerve can be spared by dye when injected at the division of the upper trunk of the brachial plexus. ⋯ Our study offers an anatomical basis for the possibility of providing shoulder analgesia and avoiding a PNP.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · May 2019
Effect of early versus delayed activation of thoracic epidural anesthesia on plasma pro-atrial natriuretic peptide to indicate deviations in central blood volume during esophagectomy.
A side effect to thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA) is hypotension induced by central hypovolemia. This study addressed whether early activation (EA) versus late activation (LA) of TEA affects plasma pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (proANP) reflecting deviations in the central blood volume (CBV). We hypothesized that EA TEA would reduce plasma proANP, thus reflecting a decrease in CBV. ⋯ EA TEA reduces plasma proANP indicating that CBV becomes affected. Based on a correlation between plasma proANP and fluid balance, a 2000 mL volume surplus of lactated Ringer's solution is required to maintain plasma proANP stable during open esophagectomy.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · May 2019
Multicenter Study Observational Study Pragmatic Clinical TrialPrognostic value of hypersensitivity reactions on epidural steroid injection outcomes: a phenotypic signature? A prospective cohort study.
Studies have found that diffuse pain, indicative of central sensitization, portends poor interventional outcomes. Multiple chemical sensitivities are associated with signs of central sensitization. We sought to prospectively determine whether hypersensitivity reactions (HR) were associated with epidural steroid injection (ESI) outcomes. ⋯ Non-immune-related HR were inversely correlated with some ESI outcome measures.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · May 2019
Trends in steroid agent and diluent choices for epidural steroid injections: a survey of Spine Intervention Society physicians.
Epidural steroid injections (ESIs) are a frequently used treatment for refractory radicular spinal pain. ESIs, particularly transforaminal epidural steroid injections (TFESI), may provide pain relief and delay the need for surgery. Corticosteroid agent and diluent choices are known to impact the safety of ESIs. In particular, the risk of embolization with particulate corticosteroids has led to recommendations for non-particulate steroid use by the Multisociety Pain Workgroup. Additionally, there is in vitro evidence that ropivacaine can crystalize in the presence of dexamethasone, potentially creating a particulate-like injectate. Despite widespread use and known risk mitigation strategies, current practice trends related to steroid and diluent choices are unknown. ⋯ Current trends, as assessed by this survey study, indicate substantial variability in steroid and diluent choice for ESIs. Patterns were identified that may impact patient safety including the continued use of particulate corticosteroids for TFESIs and the use of ropivacaine during TFESIs by a subset of respondents.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · May 2019
Effectiveness of intravenous acetaminophen for postoperative pain management in hip and knee arthroplasties: a population-based study.
The significance of intravenous over oral acetaminophen (APAP) as part of multimodal analgesic protocols is contested, particularly when considering its relatively high price and use in a surgical cohort such as total hip or knee arthroplasty (THA/TKA), which generally tolerates oral medications. This study aims to elucidate APAP's effectiveness in a large, population-based patient sample. ⋯ These results do not support the routine use of intravenous APAP in patients undergoing lower joint arthroplasty, especially since oral APAP shows more beneficial outcome patterns.