Anesthesiology and pain medicine
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Postoperative pain is considered as a reason of patient's delay in discharge and disability aggravation. Therefore, multimodal approaches have been suggested in order to mitigate pain and decrease postoperative side effects. ⋯ Findings of present study showed that single dose of intravenous dexamethasone, led to less pain intensity and amounts of meperidine consumption, in comparison with placebo.
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There have been many concerns about alteration in hemodynamic parameters within and shortly after endotracheal intubation (ETI) in patients scheduled for elective coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). ⋯ Lidocaine induced hemodynamic instability but premedication of magnesium sulfate maintained hemodynamic stability after intubation. Therefore, in patients undergoing CABG who received high-dose intravenous analgesic for general anesthesia, the administration of magnesium sulfate might result in maintaining hemodynamic stability after ETI in comparison with lidocaine.
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Many multimodal analgesia techniques have been tried to provide adequate analgesia for midline incisions extending above and below the umbilicus aiming at limiting the perioperative use of morphine thus limiting side effects. Ultrasound (US) guidance made the anesthesiologist reconsider old techniques for wider clinical use. The rectus sheath block (RSB) is a useful technique under-utilized in the adult population. ⋯ Ultrasound-guided rectus sheath block is an easy technique to learn. This technique, when it is used with general anesthesia, will be more effective in reducing pain scores and opioid consumption compared with general anesthesia alone.
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Case Reports
Caudal Epidural of Pulsed Radiofrequency in Post Herpetic Neuralgia (PHN); Report of Three Cases.
Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a frequently occurring neuropathic pain, its pathophysiology is not fully understood. There are only few evidence based therapeutic options; sympathetic nerve block can be considered for patients with PHN refractory to conservative treatment, but long-term effects are poor. Application of pulsed radiofrequency was effective to treat a variety of pain syndromes without neurological complications or other sequelae. ⋯ The mode of action of PRF is far from being completely elucidated. The high frequency current induces an electric field that in turn seems to influence the immunity, the inflammation and other pain conducting mechanisms. Our findings suggest an effect distal from the application of the current. It reaches targets that are difficultly attainable by any other means of current application. The observations of pain relief in the difficult to treat patients with PHN justifies further investigation.