Articles: nerve-block.
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A prospective study was made of 73 patients presenting in one year with abdominal pain provisionally diagnosed as of spinal origin. The criteria for audit of diagnosis and treatment are defined. ⋯ Thirty-three of these (67.3%) had both complete and prolonged relief. It is suggested that the block causes interruption of a vicious circle of pain and muscle spasm in a 'spinal reflex pain syndrome'.
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The effects of pretreatment with both sub-paralyzing and paralyzing doses of pancuronium and d-tubocurarine, on the onset and duration of succinylcholine-induced neuromuscular blockade were evaluated and compared in 225 patients. D-tubocurarine antagonized both onset and duration of succinylcholine block, while pancuronium produced a dual effect, antagonizing the onset and potentiating the duration of succinylcholine block. ⋯ Pancuronium (0.02 mg/kg, 0.04 mg/kg and 0.08 mg/kg) also antagonized the onset of succinylcholine paralysis with increases of 32 to 114%, but potentiated its duration from 30 to 103% compared with succinylcholine alone in the same patients. Although pancuronium markedly inhibited serum cholinesterase in vitro (I50=5 X 10(-7) mol) there was only a 10% inhibition of cholinesterase in vivo after pancuronium 0.08 mg/kg.
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Case Reports
[High spinal anaesthesia following intrathoracic intercostal nerve block. Report of a case (author's transl)].
In a 59-year-old female, anaesthetized with halothane, nitrous oxide/oxygen, intercostal nerve blocks were performed after right lateral thoracotomy. Before closure of the chest four segments were blocked each with 3 ml 0.5% bupivacain (Marcain, Carbostesin) without adrenaline. ⋯ The patient was able to be extubated 90' after the last block and there were no further complications. The possible mechanism of producing spinal anaesthesia after peripheral nerve blocks and the necessary precautions to avoid this complication are discussed.