Articles: nerve-block.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Intercostal nerve block with thoracoabdominal and flank incisions.
A double-blind study was done in 90 patients undergoing a rib-resecting thoracoabdominal incision for testicular cancer or a flank incision for renal surgery to determine the effect of intraoperative intercostal nerve block with bupivacaine hydrochloride on postoperative pain and complications, day of ambulation, and day of oral fluid intake. In the patients treated with bupivacaine, we found a significant reduction in the amount of postoperative analgesia required, but no difference in the day of ambulation or fluid intake. Ten of 45 patients given a placebo nerve block experienced postoperative atelectasis, whereas only 4 of 45 patients in the treated group experienced this complication. We believe that intercostal nerve block is a valuable postoperative adjuvant in patients undergoing flank surgery to reduce the postoperative analgesic requirements and incidence of atelectasis.
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A technique of continuous axillary brachial plexus block, using an epidural Tuohy needle and an epidural catheter, is described. Studies were carried out in ten patients using this technique with bupivacaine as a local anesthetic drug. ⋯ Good analgesia was obtained in nine out of the ten patients. Thus this technique allows pain-free postoperative period in hand surgery.
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The concept of a closed peri-neurovascular space surrounding the cervicobrachial plexus, introduced by A. Winnie, allows the blockade of the cervical and brachial plexuses by means of a single puncture technique. The single puncture has positive advantages: 1. ⋯ A new indication seems to be the implantation of a cardiac pacemaker. Complications often quoted in literature are Horner syndrome-a minor complication-and blockade of the ascending branches of the recurrent laryngeal nerve and of the phrenic nerve. The risk of a pneumothorax is almost nil.