Regional anesthesia and pain medicine
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Jan 2002
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialEpidural infusions for labor analgesia: a comparison of 0.2% ropivacaine, 0.1% ropivacaine, and 0.1% ropivacaine with fentanyl.
Epidural infusion of 0.2% ropivacaine is recommended by the manufacturer for labor analgesia, but lower concentrations may be effective. The objective of this study was to compare 0.1% ropivacaine with 0.2% ropivacaine and to examine the effect of addition of fentanyl. ⋯ We conclude that epidural infusion of 0.1% ropivacaine alone at 10 mL/h provided adequate analgesia in the first stage of labor, and that the addition of 2 microg/mL fentanyl to that concentration improved analgesia to a quality similar to 0.2% ropivacaine alone.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Jan 2002
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialHypnosis increases heat detection and heat pain thresholds in healthy volunteers.
Hypnosis has been reported to induce analgesia and to facilitate anesthesia. To date, hypnotic-induced analgesia has had little explanation and it has even been questioned. The current study was thus designed to investigate the effect of hypnotic suggestion on thermal-detection thresholds, heat pain, and heat-pain tolerance thresholds. ⋯ These results indicate that hypnosis may partly impair the detection of A delta and C fibers stimulation, potentially explaining its analgesic effect.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Jan 2002
Case ReportsIntrathecal baclofen: a useful agent in the treatment of well-established complex regional pain syndrome.
We present 2 case reports that illustrate that chronic intrathecal (IT) baclofen administration may be efficacious in treating patients with long-standing complex regional pain syndrome, type I (CRPS I) who have failed treatment with multiple drugs and procedures. ⋯ IT baclofen appears to be an option for patients with intractable CRPS who have failed other modalities, including IT morphine.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Jan 2002
Infraclavicular block with lateral approach and nerve stimulation: extent of anesthesia and adverse effects.
The infraclavicular approach to the brachial plexus is little used despite theoretical advantages of the technique. Using a vertical paracoracoid approach, we assessed the extent of the sensory block and the incidence of adverse effects. ⋯ Single injection infraclavicular block, using a vertical paracoracoid approach, appears suitable for surgery distal to the elbow. Selective anesthesia of the medial cutaneous nerve is useful in improving tolerance of the tourniquet.