Cahiers d'anesthésiologie
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Cahiers d'anesthésiologie · Jan 1991
Review[Secondary effects of opioids administered by the regional route].
The administration of narcotics in the subarachnoid or the epidural space is gaining acceptance for postoperative pain relief. However, the potential side effects of intrathecal and epidural use of opioids are the following: early and late respiratory depression, pruritus, nausea and vomiting, urinary retention. ⋯ Naloxone can be used to reverse the depression. Pruritus can occur in 10 to 30% of patients receiving morphine; 10 to 30% nausea and vomiting, and urinary retention occurs in 20 to 50% of patients.
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Cahiers d'anesthésiologie · Jan 1990
Review[Peripheral neurologic complications of brachial plexus blocks].
Nerve injury can arise as a complication of peripheral nerve block anesthesia. From the review of the literature remain three factors which alone or in combination, are of special etiologic interest: nerve lesion due to the needle or intraneural injection; toxic effects of the agent injected overall when epinephrine is used; ischemic trauma. ⋯ These postanesthetic neuropathies may benefit from specific treatment or even surgical exploration and external neurolysis. The block should be handled with care: rough paresthesia seeking and intraneural injections should be avoided; short bevel needles and plane solutions should be preferred.