Regional anesthesia
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Regional anesthesia · Sep 1997
Case ReportsTwo cases of cauda equina syndrome following spinal-epidural anesthesia.
Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is a well-known complication of spinal and epidural anesthesia. Previous reports have implicated lidocaine, chloroprocaine, and procaine in its etiology, but not bupivacaine. ⋯ This case report describes two cases of CES following the use of bupivacaine. The first patient had spinal stenosis which could explain this complication; however the explanation for CES in the second patient is uncertain and consequently speculative. We have discussed the possible contributing factors but believe that the etiology of CES in the second patient remains unknown.
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Regional anesthesia · Sep 1997
Case ReportsContinuous parasacral sciatic nerve block: two case reports.
This study investigated the use of a continuous parasacral sciatic nerve block for anesthesia and postoperative analgesia for lower extremity surgery. ⋯ We conclude that continuous parasacral sciatic nerve block can provide anesthesia and long-term analgesia for operative procedures of the foot and leg.
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Regional anesthesia · Sep 1997
Case ReportsAdrenocorticotropic hormone infusion as a novel treatment for postdural puncture headache.
In two patients, one scheduled for epidural anesthesia and the other for placement of a spinal catheter for operative procedures, severe postdural puncture headache developed and was refractory to conservative therapy. ⋯ A single treatment with ACTH may offer an alternative therapy in the treatment of postdural puncture headache.
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Regional anesthesia · Sep 1997
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialCombined general and epidural anesthesia versus general anesthesia for major abdominal surgery: postanesthesia recovery characteristics.
Outcome studies comparing general anesthesia combined with epidural anesthesia (GEN-EPI) to general anesthesia (GEN) for major abdominal surgery have been equivocal. However, many believe that patients anesthetized with GEN-EPI fair better than GEN. This study tests the hypothesis that there are favorable recovery characteristics associated with GEN-EPI as compared with GEN following abdominal surgery. ⋯ Transient quantifiable differences in recovery characteristics exist between patients receiving GEN-EPI and GEN.