Articles: nerve-block.
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Improvement in healthcare delivery depends on the ability to measure outcomes that can direct changes in the system. An overview of quality indicators within the field of regional anaesthesia is lacking. This systematic review aims to synthesise available quality indicators, as per the Donabedian framework, and provide a concise overview of evidence-based quality indicators within regional anaesthesia. ⋯ In addition, most indicators (84%) were based on low levels of evidence. Our study is an important first step towards describing quality indicators for the provision of regional anaesthesia. Future research should focus on the development of structure and process quality indicators and improving the methodological quality and usability of these indicators.
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Perioperative pain control is of increasing importance as awareness regarding the risks of under-controlled pain and opioid abuse rise. Enhanced recovery protocols and multimodal analgesia, including regional blocks, are useful tools for the plastic surgeon. ⋯ The widespread use of these methods may be limited by the requirements for ultrasound equipment and anesthesiologists skilled in regional blocks. This article describes a novel technique of the intercostal field block under direct visualization that is safe and efficient.
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Glucocorticoids (GCs) are expected to inhibit the synthesis and release of proinflammatory cytokines, which induces local pain. Serious side effects or complications are considered rare with single-dose GC use. However, the amount of systemic absorption and the side effects induced by local GC injections are not well understood. ⋯ The blood glucose levels were higher than usual on the first day following a local dexamethasone injection, but the levels were not critical in most cases. Because we cannot predict which patients will develop hyperglycemia, we must determine whether or not GCs can be safely administered and inform patients about potential complications.
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Moderate-to-severe postoperative pain persists for longer than the duration of single-shot peripheral nerve blocks and hence continues to be a problem even with the routine use of regional anaesthesia techniques. The administration of local anaesthetic adjuncts, defined as the concomitant intravenous or perineural injection of one or more pharmacological agents, is an attractive and technically simple strategy to potentially extend the benefits of peripheral nerve blockade beyond the conventional maximum of 8-14 hours. Historical local anaesthetic adjuncts include perineural adrenaline that has been demonstrated to increase the mean duration of analgesia by as little as just over 1 hour. ⋯ Neither perineural dexmedetomidine nor dexamethasone fulfils all the criteria of the ideal local anaesthetic adjunct. Dexmedetomidine is limited by side-effects such as bradycardia, hypotension and sedation, and dexamethasone slightly increases glycaemia. In view of the concerns related to localised nerve and muscle injury and the lack of consistent evidence for the superiority of the perineural vs. systemic route of administration, we recommend the off-label use of systemic dexamethasone as a local anaesthetic adjunct in a dose of 0.1-0.2 mg.kg-1 for all patients undergoing surgery associated with significant postoperative pain.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
A randomized comparative evaluation of local infiltration analgesia, extended nerve blocks, and conventional analgesia in pain management after total knee arthroplasty.
The aim of this study was to analyze the postoperative effects of extended nerve blocks and local infiltration analgesia (LIA) on postoperative pain control, muscle weakness, and blood loss after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). ⋯ This study demonstrates that LIA technique offers a fast and safe treatment option for pain relief after TKA. No clinically relevant muscle weakness was observed among groups according to field block applications. Significant advantages were also achieved in blood loss.