Articles: nerve-block.
-
Continuous paravertebral block has not previously been described for use in children. This study reports the use of this technique in five patients (aged 7 months to 8 years) scheduled for renal surgery or cholecystectomy. The block was not difficult to perform and provided good intra- and postoperative analgesia. Continuous paravertebral block appears to be a promising technique for pain management in children and might prove a valuable addition in the field of paediatric regional anaesthesia.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Axillary plexus block using a peripheral nerve stimulator: single or multiple injections.
This prospective, randomized, double-blind study was undertaken to evaluate the success rates of axillary brachial plexus block performed with the help of a peripheral nerve stimulator when either one, two or four of the major nerves of the brachial plexus were located. Seventy-five patients undergoing upper limb surgery were randomly allocated to one of the following five groups according to the nerve and number of nerves to be located; G-1: musculo-cutaneous, radial, median and ulnar nerves; G-2: musculo-cutaneous plus one of the other three nerves; G-3: radial nerve; G-4: median nerve; G-5: ulnar nerve. ⋯ Only one out of the 15 patients in G-1 and G-2 needed completion of their block before surgery whereas seven out of 15 for G-3 and eight out of 15 for G-4 and G-5 needed completion of their block (P less than 0.01). We conclude that when performing an axillary block with the help of a peripheral nerve stimulator, stimulation of the musculo-cutaneous nerve and one other nerve or stimulation of all four major nerves of the brachial plexus gives a higher success rate than stimulation of only one nerve, whether the stimulated nerve is the median, radial or ulnar.
-
Unilateral phrenic nerve block is common after supraclavicular brachial plexus block techniques, although it is rarely symptomatic in patients without respiratory disease. A 24-weeks-pregnant woman was scheduled for a carpal tunnel release because of intractable pain. ⋯ Respiratory changes produced by pregnancy might compromise ventilatory reserve. Thus, we suggest avoiding supraclavicular approaches to brachial plexus block in pregnant women, since they may be as prone to developing respiratory embarrassment, secondary to phrenic block, as patients with pulmonary pathology.
-
Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Jul 1992
Interscalene plexus block for arthroscopy of the humero-scapular joint.
Interscalene plexus block was performed in nine patients subjected to shoulder arthroscopy. The operating conditions, including muscle relaxation, were fully adequate in all patients (after additional local anaesthesia of the skin in four patients). ⋯ Interscalene block might be a suitable alternative to general anaesthesia for shoulder arthroscopy. However, additional local anaesthesia at the site where the arthroscope is to be inserted is frequently required.
-
Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Jul 1992
Epinephrine as an adjuvant to amino-amide local anesthetics does not prolong their duration of action in infraorbital nerve block in the rat.
The effects of epinephrine as an adjuvant to local anesthetics were studied in the rat infraorbital nerve block (IONB) model, using solutions of 0.5% prilocaine, 0.5% mepivacaine, 0.125% bupivacaine or 0.125% ropivacaine in 50 mmol/l tris-hydroxymethylaminomethane (THAM) tested both without and with epinephrine (EPI) added at 2, 4, 8 or 16 micrograms/ml. Solutions of THAM and EPI in normal saline did not induce IONB. THAM-buffered solutions of bupivacaine induced IONB of longer duration than bicarbonate-buffered solutions. ⋯ Low concentrations of EPI in solutions of bupivacaine and ropivacaine significantly reduced their duration of action by up to 22% and 57%, respectively. It is concluded that the duration of action of local anesthetics in buffered solutions is only moderately affected by the inclusion of EPI, the effects differing only slightly from one to another. The efficacy of EPI as an adjuvant would seem to be governed by factors affecting the local disposition of the main drugs, such as non-specific binding, buffering of solutions and tissue pH.