Articles: postoperative-pain.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Mar 1991
Continuous postoperative regional analgesia by nerve sheath block for amputation surgery--a pilot study.
A pilot study of continuous postoperative regional analgesia by nerve sheath block for lower limb amputation is presented. At the time of exposure of sciatic or posterior tibial nerve trunks during above- or below-knee amputations in 11 patients with ASA physical status III or IV, a catheter was introduced directly into the transected nerve sheath for continuous infusion of 0.25% bupivacaine at a rate of 10 mL/h for 72 h. ⋯ No complications related to the technique were observed. A follow-up of the group receiving continuous postoperative regional analgesia for up to 12 mo showed a total absence of phantom pain despite the presence of preoperative limb pain.
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In the last decade, nurses and physicians have increasingly recognized the importance of eliminating postoperative pain in speeding a patient's recovery after surgery. In an effort to improve postoperative pain management, many regional anesthetic techniques have been continued from the operating room to the recovery room, and into the intensive care and medical-surgical units. The methods have been shown to be superior to traditional modes of postoperative pain relief. ⋯ To provide optimum care, nurses must be well-versed in the different regional techniques employed and the drugs used with these techniques. They must recognize complications attributable to these procedures and the toxic potential of the local anesthetics and narcotics. Early detection of these complications is essential.