Articles: nerve-block.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Feb 1993
Comparative StudyOne hundred sciatic nerve blocks: a comparison of localisation techniques.
One hundred sciatic nerve blocks performed for surgery related to lower limb vascular disease were prospectively audited with respect to the techniques used for sciatic nerve localisation and the success rates achieved. Utilising a 22 gauge Quincke point needle, sciatic nerve localisation was performed by initially searching for paraesthesia, followed by the use of a low powered peripheral nerve stimulator. ⋯ A positive response to the nerve stimulator was achieved in 95 cases of which 87 went on to have successful blocks. Our findings suggest that either eliciting paraesthesia or a positive response to the peripheral nerve stimulator carries a high correlation with subsequent successful block, but that the use of the nerve stimulator provides a more consistent and reliable technique for nerve localisation.
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Plasma concentrations of bupivacaine have been measured in 12 patients given bupivacaine through a paravertebral catheter placed under direct vision at thoracotomy. After an initial bolus of 0.5% bupivacaine 20 ml, mean (SEM) Cpmax was 1.45 (0.32) micrograms ml-1 and median (range) tCpmax was 25 (10-60) min. ⋯ No symptoms or signs of toxicity occurred. Separate measurement of R- and S-bupivacaine concentrations demonstrated significantly different concentration-time profiles.
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Arthroscopic shoulder surgery can be performed under regional or general anesthesia. The objective of this study was to demonstrate that regional anesthesia has several benefits over general anesthesia for this type of surgery, particularly in the ambulatory patient. ⋯ It provided excellent intraoperative analgesia and muscle relaxation. Postoperatively, regional anesthesia resulted in fewer side effects, fewer hospital admissions, and a shorter hospital stay than did general anesthesia.
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Regional anesthesia · Jan 1993
Comparative Study Clinical TrialPatient acceptance of interscalene block for shoulder surgery.
Regional anesthesia can be applied to shoulder surgery with an expected high success rate. To determine the level of patient satisfaction with regional anesthesia, we studied a group of patients who had undergone shoulder surgery more than once, with general anesthesia on one occasion and regional on another. ⋯ Interscalene brachial plexus block is well accepted by patients for reconstructive shoulder surgery.