Articles: nerve-block.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Mar 2001
Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical TrialDiagnostic lumbosacral segmental nerve blocks with local anesthetics: a prospective double-blind study on the variability and interpretation of segmental effects.
Selective spinal nerve infiltration blocks are used diagnostically in patients with chronic low back pain radiating into the leg. Generally, a segmental nerve block is considered successful if the pain is reduced substantially. Hypesthesia and elicited paresthesias coinciding with the presumed segmental level are used as controls. The interpretation depends on a standard dermatomal map. However, it is not clear if this interpretation is reliable enough, because standard dermatomal maps do not show the overlap of neighboring dermatomes. The goal of the present study is to establish if dissimilarities exist between areas of hypesthesia, spontaneous pain reported by the patient, pain reduction by local anesthetics, and paresthesias elicited by sensory electrostimulation. A secondary goal is to determine to what extent the interpretation is improved when the overlaps of neighboring dermatomes are taken into account. ⋯ Hypesthetic areas determined after lumbosacral segmental nerve blocks show a large variability in size and location compared with elicited paresthesias. Confirmation of an adequately performed segmental nerve block, determined by coexistence of hypesthesia, elicited paresthesias and pain in the presumed dermatome, is more reliable when the overlap of neighboring dermatomes is taken into account.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Mar 2001
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialA comparison of ropivacaine and bupivacaine for cervical plexus block.
We compared bupivacaine 0.5% and ropivacaine 0.75% for cervical plexus block (CB). Forty patients scheduled for carotid artery surgery were allocated randomly to undergo superficial and deep CB with 30 mL of one of the two anesthetic solutions. We evaluated the onset of anesthetic block; the requirement for supplementation during the surgery; the patients' satisfaction; postoperative pain on a visual analog scale at 1, 2, and 3 h; and the use of paracetamol as a rescue analgesic medication. Arterial blood was sampled immediately and 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, and 60 min after CB for measurements of bupivacaine or ropivacaine concentrations. Patients in both groups had equivalent onset of CB, local infiltration with lidocaine during surgery, and satisfaction scores. In the Bupivacaine group, visual analog scale scores were lower at 2 and 3 h, and the delay before paracetamol administration was prolonged. Observed peak concentrations were larger in the Ropivacaine group (4.25 [2.07-6.59 mg/L] vs 3.02 [0.98-5.82 mg/L]), but time to reach peak concentrations was comparable (5 [1-15 min] vs 5 [0-45 min] in the Ropivacaine and Bupivacaine groups, respectively). We conclude that ropivacaine has no advantage over bupivacaine for CB. ⋯ Compared with bupivacaine (150 mg), a larger dose of ropivacaine (225 mg) produces comparable features of cervical plexus block but less postoperative analgesia and larger plasma concentrations. There is no reason to favor ropivacaine in such a case.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Mar 2001
Case ReportsThoracic paravertebral block for management of pain associated with multiple fractured ribs in patients with concomitant lumbar spinal trauma.
The need for continual neurological assessment in patients with lumbar spinal injury poses a challenge for effective management of pain associated with multiple fractured ribs. Two cases are presented to illustrate the benefits of using thoracic paravertebral block to control the pain of multiple fractured ribs without compromising the ongoing neurological assessment. ⋯ Thoracic paravertebral block is an option for managing pain associated with multiple fractured ribs in the presence of concomitant lumbar spinal injury requiring continual neurological assessment.
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Comparison of cisatracurium-induced neuromuscular blockade between immediate postpartum and nonpregnant patients.
To evaluate and compare cisatracurium-induced neuromuscular blockade and intubating conditions between immediate postpartum (PP) and nonpregnant (NP) patients. ⋯ This is the first published control study to compare the effects of cisatracurium between NP and PP patients. The results suggest that the mean onset time and clinical duration of cisatracurium are significantly shorter in immediate postpartum patients than those in nonpregnant female patients.