Regional anesthesia
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Regional anesthesia · Sep 1989
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialAlkalinization of epidural 0.5% bupivacaine for cesarean section.
Controversial results have been published in the literature concerning the efficacy of alkalinization of solutions of local anesthetics to shorten the time to onset of sensory block. Fifty-two parturients scheduled for cesarean section at term under epidural anesthesia were randomly allocated to one of four groups: group 1, 0.5% plain bupivacaine (pH = 5.38 +/- 0.05); group 2, 0.5% bupivacaine pH-adjusted with 1.4% sodium bicarbonate (pH = 6.87 +/- 0.01); group 3, 0.5% bupivacaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine (pH = 4.80 +/- 0.04); and group 4, 0.5% bupivacaine pH-adjusted with 1:200,000 epinephrine (pH = 6.68 +/- 0.01). The time to onset of the sensory block was evaluated using a nerve stimulator technique. ⋯ No differences in the characteristics of the onset of the sensory block were observed with epinephrine-containing solutions nor with pH-adjusted local anesthetics. The maximal degree of motor blockade was not significantly different in the four groups. We conclude that alkalinization of a 0.5% bupivacaine solution is not an effective way to shorten the latency of epidural block for cesarean section.
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Regional anesthesia · Nov 1989
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialEffect of diluting fentanyl on epidural bupivacaine during labor analgesia.
In a randomized prospective study carried out on 60 laboring primiparous parturients, fentanyl 80 micrograms, either in 2 ml or in 8 ml, was added to 12 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine administered epidurally for pain relief. The aims of this protocol were to evaluate the effect of varying the volume of fentanyl added to epidural bupivacaine on the quality and duration of labor analgesia. ⋯ The incidence of pruritus was higher in the fentanyl-diluted group (43% versus 23%). No clinical advantage was found in this study, therefore, when fentanyl 80 micrograms was added to 0.25% bupivacaine.
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Regional anesthesia · Jul 1995
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialUltrasound imaging for stellate ganglion block: direct visualization of puncture site and local anesthetic spread. A pilot study.
Stellate ganglion block (SGB) inhibits sympathetic innervation and is a common treatment for reflex sympathetic dystrophy. During the positioning of the needle, there is a risk of injury to the adjacent structures. The aim of the study was to develop an ultrasonographic imaging technique for the performance of SGB. ⋯ Ultrasonographic guided SGB may improve safety and allows the visualization of the local anesthetic depot. Studying the local anesthetic spread might allow the avoidance of side effects as well as typical complications of SGB.
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Regional anesthesia · Sep 1997
Clinical TrialCulture of bacteria from lumbar and caudal epidural catheters used for postoperative analgesia in children.
Continuous epidural analgesia has been used with increasing frequency to provide postoperative pain relief for children. Epidural space infection is a potential complication of epidural catheter placement. This study investigated the incidence of bacterial colonization on lumbar and caudal epidural catheter tips in postoperative pediatric patients. ⋯ The results of this study suggest that the risk of clinical epidural infection associated with caudal or lumbar postoperative catheters is low. However, the incidence of epidural catheter tip colonization is increased with the caudal route of insertion, and the bacteria differ from those cultured from the lumbar insertion site.
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Regional anesthesia · Nov 1996
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialKetamine potentiates analgesic effect of morphine in postoperative epidural pain control.
Ketamine is currently the only N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor channel blocker in clinical use. This study evaluated the analgesic efficacy of epidurally coadministered ketamine and morphine in postoperative pain control. ⋯ Ketamine, although not itself an epidural analgesic agent, potentiates the analgesic effect of morphine, especially when administered as a pretreatment. The resulting lowered dosage of epidural morphine needed for postoperative pain relief reduces, in turn, the incidence of side effects. Pretreatment of patients with ketamine epidurally, followed by injections of combined morphine and ketamine could be a promising new analgesic regimen.