Regional anesthesia
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Regional anesthesia · Nov 1997
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialSingle-shot spinal anesthesia with small doses of bupivacaine.
The potential risks of spinal lidocaine have generated interest in an alternative local anesthetic solution. Features of anesthetic block were therefore assessed in a double-blind randomized prospective study following administration of spinal bupivacaine in small doses. ⋯ Hyperbaric bupivacaine 6-8 mg provides a suitable alternative to spinal lidocaine for surgical procedures of short duration.
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Spinal anesthesia is used for ambulatory surgical procedures. We provide an overview of the use of local anesthetics, use of continuous techniques, and use of adjuncts for optimization of spinal anesthesia for ambulatory surgery. ⋯ Ambulatory spinal anesthesia may be optimized by selection of dose, concentration, and baricity of local anesthetic. Use of a continuous technique or an intrathecal adjunct may also be valuable means to optimize spinal anesthesia for ambulatory surgery.
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Regional anesthesia · Nov 1997
ReviewProgress in the development of ultra-long-acting local anesthetics.
Local anesthetic agents with a duration of action longer than the currently available local anesthetics could have widespread clinical application for the treatment of both chronic and acute pain. Over the last several decades, several different approaches have been used in the development of ultra-long-acting agents. There are currently promising preparations in development which may prove clinically useful in the near future. ⋯ Although encouraging results have been reported in the literature, there is currently no agent or delivery system that has shown reliable and practical prolongation of local anesthetic effect in humans. There have been several encouraging reports in animals that have shown local anesthetic effects lasting up to several days, but these results must be validated and then performed in human studies before a clinically useful agent is found. Further research is warranted.
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Regional anesthesia · Nov 1997
Clinical TrialNeurolytic superior hypogastric plexus block for chronic pelvic pain associated with cancer.
Neurolytic superior hypogastric plexus block has been shown to be safe and effective in selected cancer patients. A large cohort of patients was studied to evaluate the continued efficacy and safety of this block in cancer patients with advanced disease. ⋯ Neurolytic superior hypogastric plexus block provided both effective pain relief and a significant reduction in opioid usage (43%) in 72% of the patients who received a neurolytic block. Overall, this represents 51% of the patients enrolled in the study. Poor results should be expected in patients with extensive retroperitoneal disease overlying the plexus because of inadequate spread of the neurolytic agent.