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Am J Emerg Med 2019 Apr 15. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Department of Emergency Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Introduction: Finger injuries are commonly attended to in the emergency department, and digital nerve block is a frequently performed procedure for such injuries. This study compared the efficacy levels of the subcutaneous method according to the different injection sites.

Method: This was a simulation study for medical students who rendered medical service at the emergency department. Read More

J Equine Vet Sci 2019 Apr 19;75:9-13. Epub 2018 Dec 19.

Department of Clinical Sciences, Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn, AL.

The median nerve, along with the ulnar nerve, is often anesthetized when performing a lameness examination in horses. Because of the close proximity of the median nerve to the cubital joint, proximal migration of local anesthetic might ameliorate pain originating from the cubital joint. The objective of this study was to determine if a median nerve block will ameliorate lameness caused by pain in the cubital joint. Read More

Anaesthesia 2019 Apr 11. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Department of Anaesthesia, AZ Groeninge, Kortrijk, Belgium.

Perineural dexamethasone has a ceiling dose of 4 mg for prolongation of analgesia duration after injection of long-acting local anaesthetic for peripheral nerve block, but evidence for doses < 4 mg is lacking. This randomised controlled triple-blind trial tested the hypothesis that increasing doses of perineural dexamethasone between 1 mg and 4 mg would prolong the duration of analgesia in a dose-dependent manner. Eighty ASA physical status 1-2 patients scheduled for shoulder arthroscopy under general anaesthesia with ultrasound-guided interscalene brachial plexus block were randomly allocated to receive saline (control), dexamethasone 1 mg, 2 mg, 3 mg and 4 mg, together with 20 ml ropivacaine 0. Read More

Vet Anaesth Analg 2019 Jan 25. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. Electronic address:

Objective: To design and assess the perioperative analgesic efficacy of an ultrasound (US)-guided radial (R), ulnar (U), median (M) and musculocutaneous (Mc) nerve blocks, performed together in the axillary space by a single, in-plane approach.

Study Design: Anatomical research and prospective clinical study.

Animals: A group of three dog cadavers and 15 client-owned dogs undergoing orthopaedic thoracic limb surgery. Read More

Ann Transl Med 2019 Feb;7(3):40

Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.

Background: Patients with impaired lung function or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are considered high-risk for intubated general anesthesia, which may preclude them from surgical treatment of their lung cancers. We evaluated the feasibility of non-intubated video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for the surgical management of lung cancer in patients with impaired pulmonary function.

Methods: From August 2009 to June 2015, 28 patients with impaired lung function (preoperative forced expiratory volume in 1 second <70% of the predicted value) underwent non-intubated VATS using a combination of thoracic epidural anesthesia or intercostal nerve block, and intra-thoracic vagal block with target-controlled sedation. Read More

Knee 2019 Mar 20. Epub 2019 Mar 20.

Orthopaedic Associates of Wisconsin, N15W28300 Golf Road, Pewaukee, WI 53072-4800, USA.

Background: There is a growing interest in avoiding discharging patients to rehab to maximize outcome and minimize complications after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). In addition, use of postoperative pain pathways that minimize opioid use is critical amidst the current opioid epidemic. However, the ideal pain regimen after TKA has yet to be determined. Read More

Reg Anesth Pain Med 2019 Mar 21. Epub 2019 Mar 21.

Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, London Health Sciences Centre, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.

Introduction: Cardiac surgery patients often experience significant pain after median sternotomy. The transversus thoracis muscle plane (TTP) block is a newly developed, single-shot nerve block technique that provides analgesia for the anterior chest wall. In this double-blind pilot study, we assessed the feasibility of performing this novel block as an analgesic adjunct. Read More

Eur J Neurol 2019 Mar 18. Epub 2019 Mar 18.

Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Background: Conduction block is a pathognomonic feature of immune-mediated neuropathies. The aim of this study was to advance understanding of pathophysiology and conduction block in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) and multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN).

Methods: A multimodal approach was used, incorporating clinical phenotyping, neurophysiology, immunohistochemistry and structural assessments. Read More

J Clin Med 2019 Mar 12;8(3). Epub 2019 Mar 12.

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chungnam National University Hospital, 282 Munhwa-ro, Jung-gu, Daejeon 35015, Korea.

Background: The addition of the adjuvant dexmedetomidine to a nerve block improves the quality of the block and reduces perioperative opioid consumption. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant for the thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) in postoperative pain control after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).

Methods: Sixty-six males, aged 15⁻40 years, with spontaneous pneumothorax scheduled for VATS wedge resection were enrolled. Read More

Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg 2019 Mar 8. Epub 2019 Mar 8.

From the Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, Denmark.

Objectives: Simple prolapse operations can be performed using local anesthesia. However, this has not been the case for advanced pelvic organ prolapse operations. The aim of this study was to investigate the patient-reported feasibility and acceptability of local anesthesia and light sedation for sacrospinous fixation (SSF). Read More

Br J Anaesth 2019 Apr 31;122(4):525-531. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

Background: The efficacy of dexamethasone in extending the duration of local anaesthetic block is uncertain. In a randomised controlled triple blind crossover study in volunteers, we tested the hypothesis that neither i.v. Read More

J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2019 Mar 4. Epub 2019 Mar 4.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hôpital Pierre-Paul Riquet, Toulouse, France.

Background: A bone landmark-based approach (LBA) to the distal suprascapular nerve (dSSN) block is an attractive "low-tech" method available to physicians with no advanced training in regional anesthesia or ultrasound guidance. The primary aim of this study was to validate the feasibility of an LBA to blockade of the dSSN by orthopedic surgeons using anatomic analysis. The secondary aim was to describe the anatomic features of the sensory branches of the dSSN. Read More

Anticancer Res 2019 Mar;39(3):1383-1389

Department of Surgery, Kuopio University Hospital and School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland

Background/aim: Our hypothesis was that rectus sheath block (RSB) analgesia could enhance satisfaction following midline laparotomy in patients with benign disease and cancer patients.

Patients And Methods: Initially, 56 patients were randomized into four groups; control group (n=12), single-dose (n=16), repeated-dose (n=12) and continuous infusion (n=16) RSB analgesia groups. The plasma concentrations of the NT marker were measured just before, immediately after and 24 h after operation. Read More

J Med Imaging (Bellingham) 2018 Oct 10;5(4):044004. Epub 2018 Nov 10.

SINTEF Medical Technology, Trondheim, Norway.

Ultrasound images acquired during axillary nerve block procedures can be difficult to interpret. Highlighting the important structures, such as nerves and blood vessels, may be useful for the training of inexperienced users. A deep convolutional neural network is used to identify the musculocutaneous, median, ulnar, and radial nerves, as well as the blood vessels in ultrasound images. Read More

Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2019 03 1;3:CD006715. Epub 2019 Mar 1.

Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada.

Background: General anaesthesia combined with epidural analgesia may have a beneficial effect on clinical outcomes. However, use of epidural analgesia for cardiac surgery is controversial due to a theoretical increased risk of epidural haematoma associated with systemic heparinization. This review was published in 2013, and it was updated in 2019. Read More

Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2019 02 27;2:CD011436. Epub 2019 Feb 27.

Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada.

Background: The use of ultrasound guidance for regional anaesthesia has become popular over the past two decades. However, it is not recognized by all experts as an essential tool, perhaps because it is unclear whether ultrasound reduces the risk of severe neurological complications, and the cost of an ultrasound machine (USD 22,000) is substantially higher than the cost of other tools. This review was published in 2016 and updated in 2019. Read More

Pain 2019 Feb 25. Epub 2019 Feb 25.

Danish Pain Research Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University and Department of Neurology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.

In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study, we investigated if a peripheral nerve block could temporarily eliminate phantom and stump pain after amputation. Amputees with constant postamputation pain were included and randomized to receive a nerve block with lidocaine 2% with adrenaline or saline in a crossover design. Spontaneous phantom and stump pain and evoked responses were assessed at baseline and at fixed time points until 120 minutes after lidocaine or saline injection. Read More

Front Neurosci 2019 11;13:51. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs, Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, IL, United States.

Physical exercise is an essential adjunct to the management of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Therapeutic interventions that improve blood flow to peripheral nerves, such as exercise, may slow the progression of neuropathy in the diabetic patient. This randomized clinical trial was conducted to determine whether a structured program of aerobic, isokinetic strength, or the combination of aerobic-isokinetic strength exercise intervention alters peripheral nerve function in glycemic-controlled diabetic patients with advanced length-dependent distal symmetric polyneuropathy. Read More

J Anaesthesiol Clin Pharmacol 2018 Oct-Dec;34(4):458-464

Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Changi General Hospital, Singapore.

Background And Aims: Above knee amputation (AKA) is associated with considerable mortality and morbidity. There is paucity of data describing the use of peripheral nerve blocks (PNB) as the sole anesthetic technique in high-risk patients undergoing AKA. Our objectives were to evaluate the use of PNB as sole anesthetic technique in the above-mentioned population and its clinical outcomes. Read More

Beijing Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban 2019 Feb;51(1):177-181

Department of Anesthesiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China.

Objective: To compare the effects of ultrasound-guided interscalene brachial plexus block and C5-6 nerve root block for analgesia after shoulder arthroscopy.

Methods: In the study, 40 patients of ASA I-II were selected for elective general anesthesia to repair the shoulder ligament rupture in Peking University Third Hospital, who were randomly divided into two groups, respectively for the intermuscular brachial plexus block group (group I) and C5-6 nerve root block group (group C), n=20. The forty patients underwent ultrasound-guided brachial plexus block or C5-6 nerve root block before general anesthesia. Read More

Reg Anesth Pain Med 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Departments of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USA.

Background And Objectives: Percutaneous peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) is an analgesic modality involving the insertion of a lead through an introducing needle followed by the delivery of electric current. This modality has been reported to treat chronic pain as well as postoperative pain following knee and foot surgery. However, it remains unknown if this analgesic technique may be used in ambulatory patients following upper extremity surgery. Read More

Clin Orthop Relat Res 2019 Mar;477(3):622-632

J. T. YaDeau, S. S. Liu, M. A. Gordon, E. A. Goytizolo, Y. Lin, A. A. Schweitzer, Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Management Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, USA D. M. Dines, L. V. Gulotta, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Sports Medicine, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, USA K. G. Fields, Healthcare Research Institute, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, USA.

Background: The pain experience for total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) patients in the first 2 weeks after surgery has not been well described. Many approaches to pain management have been used, with none emerging as clearly superior; it is important that any approach minimizes postoperative opioid use.

Questions/purposes: (1) With a long-acting nerve block and comprehensive multimodal analgesia, what are the pain levels after TSA from day of surgery until postoperative day (POD) 14? (2) How many opioids do TSA patients take from the day of surgery until POD 14? (3) What are the PainOUT responses at POD 1 and POD 14, focusing on side effects from opioids usage?

Methods: From January 27, 2017 to December 6, 2017, 154 TSA patients were identified as potentially eligible for this prospective, institutional review board-approved observational study. Read More

J Thorac Dis 2018 Dec;10(12):6873-6879

Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Oakland, CA, USA.

Background: Postsurgical pain control can have a significant impact on patient outcomes and hospital-associated costs. We sought to evaluate the effect of intercostal nerve blocks using liposomal bupivacaine on length of stay (LOS) in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed outcomes in 80 patients undergoing VATS wedge resection, VATS lobectomy, or minimally-invasive esophagectomy (MIE). Read More

Vet Anaesth Analg 2019 Mar 28;46(2):214-225. Epub 2018 Sep 28.

Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Anaesthesia and Critical Care Services, Valley Farm Animal Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa. Electronic address:

Objective: To determine the effect of hyaluronidase on time to onset and offset of anaesthesia in ropivacaine or bupivacaine femoral-ischiatic nerve blocks.

Study Design: Blinded randomized crossover trial.

Animals: Eight dogs. Read More

Pain Manag 2019 Mar 25;9(2):115-121. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

Chronic Pain Fellowship of Anesthesia Department, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC 27103, USA.

Aim: Neural blockade at the celiac plexus is less specific compared with splanchnic nerve block. This retrospective study compares duration and potency of celiac versus splanchnic block. Patients & methods: Analyzed were data of 16 consecutive patients with visceral abdominal nonmalignant pain treated using both celiac plexus and T11 splanchnic block. Read More

Vet Rec 2019 Feb 19;184(5):155. Epub 2019 Jan 19.

College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.

The objective of this study was to determine if buffering mepivacaine HCL (mepHCl) with sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO) would significantly decrease the time to onset of analgesia when performing median and ulnar nerve blocks in naturally lame horses. Median and ulnar nerve blocks were performed on the naturally lame limb of nine horses during two separate study periods, with a minimum washout period of three days between study periods. Nerve blocks were performed by administering mepHCl alone or mepHCl mixed with NaHCO (nine parts 2 per cent mepHCl to one part 8. Read More

J Dairy Sci 2019 Mar 11;102(3):2492-2506. Epub 2019 Jan 11.

Vetlife Temuka, Temuka 7920, New Zealand.

Anesthesia of the horn bud for calf disbudding commonly is attained by injection of local anesthetic over branches of the cornual nerve, with anesthesia achieved in 3 to 20 min. With experienced and trained staff, this method is effective in 88 to 100% of calves. Variability in response and time of onset can compromise calf welfare if calves are disbudded before anesthesia is attained. Read More

J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol 2019 Jan 8. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.

Study Objective: Intrauterine device (IUD) utilization in the United States is low among adolescent and young adult women. Longer procedure duration has been proposed as one potential barrier to IUD insertion in this population. We hypothesized that procedure duration would be longer in adolescents compared to young adult women. Read More

A A Pract 2019 Jan 3. Epub 2019 Jan 3.

Departement of Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Rodez General Hospital, Rodez, France.

The outcome of upper limb tendon transfer surgery is improved when the patient is able to voluntarily contract specific muscles during the surgical procedure. Tumescent local anesthesia is suitable, but we describe an alternative option that involves the novel management of an axillary block. A 47-year-old man, injured in a motor vehicle crash, exhibited a thumb extensor deficit because of severe muscular trauma to the forearm. Read More

Int Braz J Urol 2019 Jan-Feb;45(1):145-149

Department of Pediatric Urology, Children's Hospital Colorado, Denver, CO, United States.

Objective: In the majority of published series, children undergoing open pyeloplasty are admitted for at least one night. We hypothesized that it would be possible in the majority of infants to perform open pyeloplasty as an outpatient procedure.

Materials And Methods: All patients who underwent open pyeloplasty by a single surgeon between 2008 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Read More

BMC Anesthesiol 2018 12 19;18(1):191. Epub 2018 Dec 19.

Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospitals of Geneva, Rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil 4, CH-1211, Geneva 14, Switzerland.

Background: Multiorifice catheters have been shown to provide superior analgesia and significantly reduce local anesthetic consumption compared with end-hole catheters in epidural studies. This prospective, blinded, randomized study tested the hypothesis that, in continuous femoral nerve block (CFNB) under ultrasound guidance, multiorifice catheter would reduce local anesthetic consumption at 24 h compared with end-hole catheter.

Methods: Eighty adult patients (aged ≥18 years) scheduled to undergo primary total knee arthroplasty under a combination of CFNB, sciatic nerve block and general anesthesia were randomized to CFNB using either a 3-pair micro-hole (Contiplex, BRAUN®, 20G - 400 mm) or an end-hole (Silverstim VYGON®, 20G - 500 mm) catheter. Read More

Eur J Anaesthesiol 2019 Apr;36(4):255-263

Background: Local infiltration anaesthesia (LIA) was introduced as an innovative analgesic procedure for enhanced recovery after primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, LIA has never been compared with analgesia based on an adductor canal catheter and a single-shot sciatic nerve block.

Objective: To evaluate two analgesic regimens for TKA comparing mobility, postoperative pain and patient satisfaction. Read More

Dis Colon Rectum 2019 02;62(2):203-210

Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California.

Background: Transversus abdominis plane block may improve analgesia after colorectal surgery; however, techniques remain unstandardized and results are conflicting.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare laparoscopic and ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block with no block in minimally invasive colorectal surgery.

Design: This was a randomized controlled trial. Read More

Am J Emerg Med 2018 Nov 17. Epub 2018 Nov 17.

Emergency Medicine Department, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address:

Background: Low dose ketamine can be used as analgesic in acute pain management in the emergency department (ED).

Objective: Efficacy of IN ketamine in acute pain management in the ED.

Method: This is a double blind randomized clinical trial on patients older than 15 years who needed digital nerve block (DNB). Read More

Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2019 Jan 3;176:73-77. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Science & Innovation Manager, R&D Department, Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Carlisle, CA1 3SX, UK. Electronic address:

Objective: Greater occipital nerve (GON) block is a treatment option applied for a variety of primary headache disorders. Although a patient's body position is known to have an impact on the effect of local anaesthetics, this has not before been investigated for patients undergoing GON block. Therefore, the clinical effectiveness of either a sitting or supine position was assessed. Read More

Indian J Anaesth 2018 Nov;62(11):876-880

Department of Anesthesia and Pain Relief Services, Tata Motors Hospital, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, India.

Background And Aims: Monopolar radiofrequency ablation (MRFA) of the genicular nerve is effective in managing chronic knee pain from osteoarthritis (OA); however, the procedure itself is associated with significant pain due to manipulation of electrode to localise tiny genicular nerves. We hypothesised that inserting two electrodes to target the genicular nerves [bipolar radiofrequency ablation (BRFA)] without sensory localisation can decrease the procedural pain with equal analgesic efficacy in treating knee pain.

Methods: Thirty patients with chronic knee pain due to OA were randomised to receive either MRFA ( = 15) or BRFA ( = 15), after having 50% pain relief with diagnostic genicular nerve block. Read More

Rev Esp Anestesiol Reanim 2019 Mar 6;66(3):122-128. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Facultad de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, España; Hospital Clinic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, España. Electronic address:

Introduction: To recognise the relationship between the needle tip and the median nerve during peripheral nerve block is of interest to avoid neural damage. However, signs of intraneural injection are not clearly established. The aim of this study was to define the changes observed in the peripheral nerve after the intraneural or perineural administration of 1ml of solution. Read More

Vet Anaesth Analg 2019 Jan 19;46(1):28-35. Epub 2018 Sep 19.

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway.

Objective: To determine the infusion rates that maintain the train-of-four (TOF) ratio within 20-70% in dogs and compare the infusion rates between diabetic and nondiabetic dogs.

Study Design: Prospective clinical study.

Animals: In total, 47 dogs scheduled for phacoemulsification were included with a median (80% central range) bodyweight of 10. Read More

Vet Anaesth Analg 2019 Jan 22;46(1):106-115. Epub 2018 Oct 22.

Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.

Objective: To develop a modified ultrasound-guided parasacral approach to the sciatic nerve and compare the effects of a volume of 0.2 mL kg of 0.5% levobupivacaine with an equivalent volume of 0. Read More

J Neuroeng Rehabil 2018 Nov 12;15(1):103. Epub 2018 Nov 12.

Toledo Physiotherapy Research Group (GIFTO), Nursing and Physiotherapy School, Castilla La Mancha University, 45071, Toledo, Spain.

Background: High-frequency alternating currents of greater than 1 kHz applied on peripheral nerves has been used in animal studies to produce a motor nerve block. It has been evidenced that frequencies higher than 5 kHz are necessary to produce a complete peripheral nerve block in primates, whose nerve thickness is more similar to humans. The aim of the study was to determine the effect on muscle strength after the application of a high-frequency stimulation at 5 and 10 kHz compared to sham stimulation in healthy volunteers. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Oct;97(43):e12958

Department of Anesthesiology, Emergency and Intensive Care Medicine, University Medical Center, University of Goettingen, Goettingen.

Background: Continuous blockade of the femoral nerve is widely used for postoperative analgesia after hip surgery. It can be achieved by ultrasound-guided placement of a femoral nerve catheter via either the in plane (IP) or out of plane (OOP) technique. On the basis of postoperative radiographs, we evaluated the paths of femoral nerve catheters with respect to both techniques and its effect on postoperative analgesia. Read More

J Arthroplasty 2019 02 13;34(2):295-302. Epub 2018 Oct 13.

Department of Orthopaedics, Faculty of Medicine, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.

Background: Peripheral nerve block and local infiltration analgesia (LIA) have an increasing role as part of multimodal analgesia for enhanced recovery after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We hypothesized that the combination of obturator nerve block (ONB) and tibial nerve block (TNB) would reduce pain and opioid consumption more than ONB or TNB alone when combined with continuous adductor canal block and LIA.

Methods: Ninety patients were recruited into the study and received spinal anesthesia, LIA, and continuous adductor canal block. Read More

Anticancer Res 2018 Nov;38(11):6479-6484

Department of Surgery, Kuopio University Hospital and School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland

Background/aim: The relationship of plasma concentrations of the oxidative stress biomarker catalase with pain on numeric rating scale at rest (NRSr) and under wound pressure 24 hours postoperatively (NRSp) in midline laparotomy patients with rectus sheath block (RSB) analgesia are unknown. Our original hypothesis was that RSB analgesia might reduce postoperative pain.

Patients And Methods: Initially, 56 patients were randomized to four groups: control group (n=12), single-dose (n=16), repeated-dose (n=12) and continuous infusion (n=16) RSB analgesia groups. Read More

J Clin Anesth 2019 May 3;54:61-65. Epub 2018 Nov 3.

Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Muğla, Turkey.

Study Objective: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy of women all over the world. In this study, we compared the effects of ultrasound-guided modified pectoral nerve (PECS) block and erector spinae plane (ESP) block on postoperative opioid consumption, pain scores, and intraoperative fentanyl need of patients undergoing unilateral modified radical mastectomy surgery.

Design: Single-blinded, prospective, randomized, efficacy study. Read More

J Anaesthesiol Clin Pharmacol 2018 Jul-Sep;34(3):372-378

Department of Anesthesia, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Background And Aims: Cadaveric studies have shown that injectate from transmuscular quadratus lumborum block (QLB) can spread to the lumbar plexus. Our aim was to compare analgesic efficacy of transmuscular QLB with lumbar plexus block (LPB) for patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Material And Methods: Thirty patients receiving transmuscular QLB were propensity score matched with 30 patients receiving LPB for age, sex, ASA score, BMI, operative time, preoperative oxycodone, and intraoperative opioid use. Read More

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018 11 22;115(45):E10720-E10729. Epub 2018 Oct 22.

Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan 40402;

Adequate pain management remains an unmet medical need. We previously revealed an opioid-independent analgesic mechanism mediated by orexin 1 receptor (OX1R)-initiated 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) signaling in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG). Here, we found that low-frequency median nerve stimulation (MNS) through acupuncture needles at the PC6 (Neiguan) acupoint (MNS-PC6) induced an antinociceptive effect that engaged this mechanism. Read More

Eur Neurol 2018 22;80(1-2):100-105. Epub 2018 Oct 22.

Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an,

Purpose: The diagnosis of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) in the very early stage may be challenging. Our aim was to report the neurophysiological abnormalities in GBS within 4 days of clinical onset. We expected that GBS will be diagnosed by the assistance of neurophysiological study in the very early stage. Read More

Clin Anat 2019 Jan 20;32(1):2-8. Epub 2018 Oct 20.

Department of Anesthesiology, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.

Our objective was to define the positions of the nerves around the brachial artery and, secondarily, to assess the risk of intraneural injection during dual guided axillary block. Sixty ultrasound-guided axillary blocks were performed. The locations of the musculocutaneous, median, ulnar, and radial nerves relative to the brachial artery were determined. Read More

J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth 2019 02 7;33(2):453-459. Epub 2018 Jul 7.

University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK.

Objectives: Paravertebral local analgesia is effective in providing pain relief after video assisted thoracoscopic surgery. This randomized, double-blind pilot clinical trial investigated the effect of early perioperative delivery of paravertebral local analgesia to reduce postoperative pain after video assisted thoracoscopic lung resection and the feasibility of a larger trial.

Design: Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Read More

BMC Anesthesiol 2018 10 19;18(1):143. Epub 2018 Oct 19.

Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College, 2 Fuxue Road, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province, 325000, China.

Background: Proximal brachial plexus blocks can lead to an extended period of motor paralysis and delay the return of motor function. This could influence patient satisfaction, and extend hospitalizations. The aim of the study is to compare a selective distal nerve block of the arm to a proximal axillary block, both ultrasound-guided, in terms of their motor block intensity of the elbow. Read More