Minerva anestesiologica
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Minerva anestesiologica · Jul 2019
ReviewAcute pain management in trauma: anatomy, ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve blocks and special considerations.
Pain is the most common complaint amongst trauma patients throughout the perioperative period. Multimodal analgesia is currently being regarded the mainstay, with regional anesthesia techniques constituting an integral part of it. ⋯ In this review, we set out to provide several examples of injuries, to elucidate the precise anatomy of fractured bones (osteotomes), and to elaborate on certain peripheral nerve blocks employed in pain management of trauma patients. Controversies/special considerations pertaining to peripheral nerve blocks also dictate thorough analysis: as such, acute compartment syndrome, acute peripheral nerve injuries, regional anesthesia in awake or anesthetized patients, continuous peripheral nerve blocks, positioning limitations and, finally, ultrasound imaging versus neurostimulation techniques are extensively reviewed.
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Minerva anestesiologica · Jul 2019
ReviewDeath by neurologic criteria: pathophysiology, definition, diagnostic criteria and tests.
Death by neurologic criteria is an irreversible sequence of events culminating in permanent cessation of cerebral functions. In this context, there are no responses arising from the brain, no cranial nerve reflexes nor motor responses to pain stimuli, and no respiratory drive. ⋯ The diagnosis, confirmation, and certification of death are core skills for medical practitioners. The aim of this review is to discuss the pathophysiology and definition of death by neurological criteria, describing the clinical assessment, and the use of ancillary tests for the diagnosis of brainstem death.