Articles: nerve-block.
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Case Reports
Transient paraplegia from intraoperative intercostal nerve block after transthoracic discectomy.
To present two patients with transient paraplegia from intercostal nerve blocks after transthoracic discectomy. ⋯ Because of the inherent risk of neurologic injury after thoracic discectomy, the authors discourage the use of intercostal nerve blocks for relieving postoperative pain after transthoracic discectomy.
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Comparative Study
Irreversible conduction block in isolated nerve by high concentrations of local anesthetics.
Delivery of large doses of local anesthetics for spinal anesthesia by repeated injections or continuous infusion could expose the cauda equina to concentrations of drug that may be neurotoxic per se. We studied this possible neurotoxic effect by assessing recovery from conduction blockade of desheathed peripheral nerves after exposure to some of the local anesthetic solutions commonly used for spinal anesthesia. ⋯ Solutions of 5% lidocaine and 0.5% tetracaine that have been associated with clinical cases of cauda equina syndrome after continuous spinal anesthesia caused irreversible conduction block in desheathed amphibian nerve. Whether these in vitro actions also occur in mammalian nerves in vivo is an important, clinically relevant question now under investigation in our laboratory.