Regional anesthesia and pain medicine
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · May 1999
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialQuantitative sensory changes in humans after intravenous regional block with mepivacaine.
In previous studies we have demonstrated that after intravenous regional block (IVRA) with dilute mepivacaine, there is a decrease in neurogenic inflammation as well as in post-ischemic hyperemia and steady-state flow, the latter for at least 60 minutes. It is unclear whether these vascular reactions reflect a uniform depression of nerve function in the treated arms. Because the various afferents convey impulses from different types of sensory receptors, we used quantitative sensory testing (QST) to define these effects of IVRA with mepivacaine. ⋯ There was no uniform depression of nerve function after IVRA. The cold receptors and/or their Adelta-fibers were selectively depressed after the block. In conjunction with earlier findings, this suggests that IVRA with mepivacaine can differentially decrease neurogenic inflammation, with little impairment of sensory function.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · May 1999
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialFrequency of hypotension during conventional or asymmetric hyperbaric spinal block.
The purpose of this randomized, double-blind study was to evaluate if use of an asymmetric spinal block affects the incidence of hypotension during spinal anesthesia. ⋯ Achieving an asymmetric distribution of spinal block by injecting a small dose of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine through a Whitacre spinal needle into patients placed in the lateral position for 15 min reduces the incidence of hypotension during spinal anesthesia.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · May 1999
Comparative StudyPreemptive intrathecal ketamine injection produces a long-lasting decrease in neuropathic pain behaviors in a rat model.
Ketamine is an N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, which has been found to effectively treat somatic and neuropathic pain. This study examines the effect (on neuropathic pain) of preemptive ketamine using different routes of administration (intrathecal versus intraperitoneal). ⋯ Neuropathic pain behaviors were significantly reduced for at least 2 weeks after intrathecal ketamine was preemptively administered to animals undergoing surgery to induce neuropathic pain. The mechanism of action is thought to be prevention of spinal cord sensitization.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · May 1999
Case ReportsAxillary block complicated by hematoma and radial nerve injury.
Hematoma is typically cited as one mechanism of nerve injury following axillary block. However, documented cases of this are lacking. ⋯ Hematoma complicating axillary block may result in nerve dysfunction.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · May 1999
Biography Historical ArticleRalph Waters as a regional anesthesiologist.