Minerva anestesiologica
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In this review, some of the newer developments in regional anaesthesia (RA) are discussed. The relationship between paraesthesiae and nerve stimulator responses has been shown to be unclear, and sometimes at a needle tip location where a paraesthesia is found, there is no response to the nerve stimulator. It is recommended to use whichever end point is found first. ⋯ The use of PCA for blocks as well as intravenously and the extension of the use of RA into the home are important developments. The beneficial effects of RA on postoperative morbidity and mortality are becoming clearer, and the introduction of the two new local anaesthetic agents, ropivacaine and levobupivacaine have improved safety. There has, however, been very slow progress in the development of long awaited ultralong acting local anaesthetics or in the introduction of slow release formulations.
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Bupivacaine has been the most widely used local anaesthetic for years. Recent studies point out levobupivacaine, an S(-) isomer of the racemic bupivacaine. This review shows the properties of levobupivacaine describing the animal and human volunteers studies on toxicity and the first clinical studies in obstetrics, general surgery and paediatrics. ⋯ Potency is equal for levo- and bupivacaine according to MLAC in labour analgesia. Studies in paediatrics confirm effective analgesia but show less intensity of motor block. The reduced toxicity of levobupivacaine gives wider safety margin in the daily clinical practice both for single shot and for continuous infusion, intraoperatively during various surgical procedures and for the postoperative pain control and analgesia in labour.
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Caudal block is the single most popular regional anesthetic technique used in infants and children. A review of the literature concerning complications related to this technique reveals that it is safe and it has a low failure rate. Probably the incidence of complications of caudal block is 7/10.000, the lowest of all the central blocks. ⋯ Caudal morphine has been used successfully for postoperative analgesia in children of all ages, including neonates after open-heart surgery. Possible complications of this technique are: local anesthetics overdose, vascular penetration and intravascular injection of local anesthetics, dural puncture and total spinal anaesthesia, intraosseous injection, infections, meningitis, respiratory depression (when morphine is used). Authors analyze all these complications and the safety rules for their prevention.
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Minerva anestesiologica · Sep 2001
Regional anaesthesia in vascular surgery: a multidisciplinary approach to accelerate recovery and postoperative discharge.
A multimodal, rehabilitative, fast discharge approach to abdominal aortic surgery is analyzed. The approach was developed in two phases during the years 1997-2000: in the first phase (1997) patients had thoracic epidural anesthesia plus TIVA and analgesia. ⋯ Preliminary results on 44 patients show no mortality, low postoperative morbility (cardiac complications 2,2%, peripheral embolization 2,2%, no pulmonary complications), no ICU stay and fast hospital discharge (median: 3,5 days, range: 2-8 days) without complications. We conclude that preliminary data support the safety and the need for further improvement of a multimodal, aggressive rehabilitative approach in abdominal vascular surgery.
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Describe early discharge of patients treated with continuous perineural analgesia after orthopaedic surgery. ⋯ Continuous, post-operative, perineural analgesia at home is safe and effective, less expensive with high patient satisfaction.