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Ann Card Anaesth 2019 Jan-Mar;22(1):35-40

Department of Anaesthesiology, KK Women's and Children Hospital, Singapore.

Context: Regional anesthesia may attenuate adverse physiological stress responses associated with cardiothoracic surgery. In this study, hemodynamic stress response at the different time of surgical stimuli was compared between patients receiving general anesthesia (GA) along with caudal epidural analgesia with GA with intravenous analgesia in pediatric population undergoing open-heart surgery.

Aims: This study aims to compare the hemodynamic response at the different time of surgical stimuli and postoperative pain score, in pediatric patients undergoing open-heart procedures. Read More

BMJ Open 2019 Jan 15;9(1):e023455. Epub 2019 Jan 15.

Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.

Introduction: Postoperative morbidity and mortality in older patients with comorbidities undergoing gastrointestinal surgery are a major burden on healthcare systems. Infections after surgery are common in such patients, prolonging hospitalisation and reducing postoperative short-term and long-term survival. Optimal management of perioperative intravenous fluids and inotropic drugs may reduce infection rates and improve outcomes from surgery. Read More

J Clin Anesth 2019 Jan 10;55:116-127. Epub 2019 Jan 10.

Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine, Milton S Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, United States of America. Electronic address:

Background: Regional anesthesia may mitigate the risk of persistent postoperative pain (PPP). This Cochrane review, published originally in 2012, was updated in 2017.

Methods: We updated our search of Cochrane CENTRAL, PubMed, EMBASE and CINAHL to December 2017. Read More

Orthop J Sports Med 2018 Dec 28;6(12):2325967118815859. Epub 2018 Dec 28.

Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Background: Regional nerve blocks are commonly used to manage postoperative pain after arthroscopic shoulder procedures. The interscalene brachial plexus block (ISB) is commonly used; however, because of the reported side effects of ISB, the use of a suprascapular nerve block (SSNB) has been described as an alternative strategy with fewer reported side effects.

Purpose: To examine the efficacy of SSNB for pain control after shoulder arthroscopy compared with ISB as well as anesthesia without a nerve block. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Jan;98(1):e13994

Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Mugla Sitki Kocman University, Mugla, Turkey.

Background: We aimed to assess whether an ultrasound (US)-guided oblique subcostal transversus abdominis plane (OSTAP) block would improve the postoperative pain scores and decrease the tramadol consumption after a laparoscopic hysterectomy.

Methods: Sixty-six female patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists I, II, or III, aged 18 to 65 years who were scheduled for laparoscopic hysterectomy for benign gynecologic pathologies were recruited in this randomized, controlled, observer-blinded trial. Sixty patients completed the study. Read More

ScientificWorldJournal 2018 15;2018:3978760. Epub 2018 Nov 15.

Faculty Anesthesiologist, MD, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, PA, USA.

Background: Perioperative use of intravenous magnesium as part of multimodal analgesia has been increasing in recent years in an effort to decrease the use of opioids. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of magnesium sulfate infusion in lowering analgesic requirement and decreasing the intensity of pain score after cesarean delivery.

Methods: Sixty-four patients who underwent cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia were included in this medical record review: 32 patients received magnesium infusion after cesarean delivery for treatment of mild preeclampsia (Mg group); 32 patients received routine post-cesarean delivery care (control group). Read More

J Pain Res 2018 10;11:3109-3116. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA,

Background: Adverse effects of opioid analgesics and potential for chronic use are limitations in the cesarean setting. Regional anesthesia using transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block post-cesarean delivery may improve analgesia and reduce opioid consumption. Effectiveness of TAP block using liposomal bupivacaine (LB) to reduce post-cesarean pain is unknown. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Dec;97(51):e13771

Department of Thoracic Surgery.

Background: The efficacy of thoracic paravertebral block for thoracoscopic surgery remains controversial. We conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the impact of thoracic paravertebral block on thoracoscopic surgery.

Methods: We search PubMed, EMbase, Web of science, EBSCO, and Cochrane library databases through August 2018 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect of thoracic paravertebral block on thoracoscopic surgery. Read More

Eur J Anaesthesiol 2018 Dec 17. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Joanna Kastelik and Michael Fuchs contributed equally to the article.

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

Am J Sports Med 2018 Dec 17:363546518815874. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, USA.

Background:: Femoral nerve block (FNB) is a commonly performed technique that has been proven to provide effective regional analgesia after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. The adductor canal block (ACB) uses a similar sensory block around the knee while avoiding motor blockade of the quadriceps muscles.

Purpose/hypothesis:: The purpose of our study was to compare the efficacy of FNB versus ACB for pain control after ACL reconstruction. Read More

Clin Plast Surg 2019 Jan;46(1):33-39

Section of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, PO Box 208062, New Haven, CT 06520-8062, USA. Electronic address:

Body contouring procedure is a catchall that includes mastopexy, abdominoplasty, liposuction, and lower body lift. It is well known that optimal postoperative pain control decreases hospitalization length of stay and promotes early ambulation, which in turn decreases the incidence of complications. There have been many innovations in pain control beyond opiate medications, including prolonged administration of local anesthesia, regional blocks, and the use of a multimodal regimen which utilizes nonopiates. Read More

Saudi J Anaesth 2018 Oct-Dec;12(4):565-570

Department of Anesthesia and Pain Management, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.

Background: Thoracotomy needs adequate powerful postoperative analgesia. This study aims to compare the safety and efficacy of ultrasound (US)-guided serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) and thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) for perioperative analgesia in cancer patients having lung lobectomy.

Patients And Methods: This clinical trial involved 90 patients with lung cancer scheduled for lung lobectomy randomly divided into three groups according to the type of preemptive regional block. Read More

Pain Res Manag 2018 17;2018:3562701. Epub 2018 Oct 17.

Ordu University, School of Medicine, Training and Research Hospital, Department of Anesthesia and Reanimation, Ordu, Turkey.

Introduction And Objective: TAP block has gained popularity to provide postoperative analgesia after abdominal surgery but its advantage over epidural analgesia is disputed. For lower abdominal surgeries, epidural analgesia has been the gold standard and time-tested technique for providing postoperative analgesia, but contraindications for the same would warrant need for other equally good analgesic techniques. The objective of this study is to compare the analgesic efficacy of both the techniques. 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

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

Surg Clin North Am 2018 Dec 22;98(6):1171-1184. Epub 2018 Aug 22.

Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3094, Durham, NC 27710, USA.

Enhanced recovery after surgery is an evidence-based, multimodal approach to the perioperative care of a patient undergoing surgery. These pathways seek to attenuate the stress response to surgery facilitating postoperative recovery. Analgesia is a critical component of these pathways, because optimal pain relief is critical for patients to mobilize quickly after surgery, preventing such complications as infection and thromboembolism. Read More

Anaesthesia 2019 Feb 1;74(2):167-173. Epub 2018 Nov 1.

Department of Anaesthesia and Critical Care, Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda.

Both transversus abdominis plane block and intrathecal morphine may produce prolonged postoperative analgesia, but the respective clinical outcomes of these anaesthetic techniques in resource-limited settings are not well described. We randomly assigned patients undergoing caesarean section to receive a hyperbaric bupivacaine (10 mg) spinal anaesthetic followed by an ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block, or a hyperbaric bupivacaine (10 mg) spinal anaesthetic with 100 mcg intrathecal morphine, followed by a postoperative sham block. Supplemental postoperative analgesia included self-administered oral diclofenac 50 mg and paracetamol 1 g every 8 h. Read More

Ann Ital Chir 2018 ;89:324-329

Introduction: The actual high hospitalization costs have encouraged a growing attention towards reducing hospital stay. Nowadays, many simple surgical procedures are carried out in a one-day surgery regimen . A shorter hospital stay brings many advantages for the patients: lesser inconvenience, a lower risk of hospital infection and an earlier return to work. Read More

Dis Colon Rectum 2018 12;61(12):1403-1409

Department of Surgery, Section of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.

Background: Thoracic epidural analgesia has been shown to be an effective method of pain control. The utility of epidural analgesia as part of an enhanced recovery after surgery protocol is debatable.

Objective: This study aimed to determine if the use of thoracic epidural analgesia in an enhanced recovery after surgery protocol decreases hospital length of stay or inpatient opioid consumption after elective colorectal resection. Read More

J Hand Surg Asian Pac Vol 2018 Sep;23(3):419-423

‡ Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Aichiken Koseiren Kainan Hospital, Nagoya, Japan.

Early active mobilization after hand surgery is extremely important for preventing scar tissue and adhesion. We examined four patients for whom continuous peripheral nerve blocks (CPNB) were used during and after hand surgery. This method was used for three median nerves and one ulnar nerve. Read More

Am J Obstet Gynecol 2018 Nov 28;219(5):500.e1-500.e8. Epub 2018 Sep 28.

Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD; Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Landstuhl, Germany.

Background: Effective postoperative pain management is a crucial component of recovery following surgery. Narcotics are a cornerstone of postoperative analgesia, but can require a redosing requirement, encompass a lengthy list of side effects and adverse reaction risks, as well as carry a dependency potential. The national focus on decreasing opioid use has directly impacted postoperative pain management. Read More

Am Surg 2018 Sep;84(9):1433-1438

Liposomal bupivacaine (LipoB) provides prolonged local anesthetic effects and has seen usage in several fields of surgery. We review our experience using LipoB intraoperatively for intercostal nerve blocks after video-assisted throacoscopic surgery (VATS). A retrospective, single-center review was conducted for patients undergoing VATS from August 2012 to December 2014. Read More

J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent 2018 Jul-Sep;36(3):296-300

Department of Medicine, FMMCH, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.

Background: Injection of local anesthesia is one of the most important reasons for avoidance behavior in children. Applying a topical anesthetic before injection is the most popular way to control pain; however, topical anesthetics have some shortcomings such as longer duration of action, displeasing taste, and spread of the anesthetic agent to noninjection site areas. Cryoanesthesia using refrigerant as a topical anesthesia is being studied as an alternative to overcome the shortcomings of topical anesthetics and has shown promising results. Read More

Reg Anesth Pain Med 2018 Nov;43(8):815-818

β-Adrenergic blockade is an important mechanism for reducing morbidity and mortality in patients with hypertension and heart failure. Esmolol has been used widely for its chronotropic and antihypertensive effects. However, there has been recent inquiry regarding perioperative esmolol use and nociceptive modulation. Read More

Anesth Analg 2018 Sep 5. Epub 2018 Sep 5.

From the Pediatric Anesthesia Unit, Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, Lapeyronie University Hospital, Montpellier University, Montpellier, France.

Background: The transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block has become a common regional anesthesia technique for pain management in a wide variety of abdominal procedures. Evidence to support any particular local anesthetic regimen as well as pharmacokinetic and systemic toxicity risks of TAP block remain insufficiently studied in children. The aim of this study was to compare the analgesic effects and investigate pharmacokinetic profile of levobupivacaine after ultrasound-guided TAP block using a low volume/high concentration (LVHC) or a high volume/low concentration (HVLC) solution in children. Read More

J Pain Res 2018 23;11:1567-1581. Epub 2018 Aug 23.

Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA,

The management of postoperative pain is of critical importance for women undergoing breast reconstruction after surgical treatment for breast cancer. Mitigating postoperative pain can improve health-related quality of life, reduce health care resource utilization and costs, and minimize perioperative opiate use. Multimodal analgesia pain management strategies with nonopioid analgesics have improved the value of surgical care in patients undergoing various operations but have only recently been reported in reconstructive breast surgery. Read More

Zhong Nan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban 2018 Aug;43(8):858-863

Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering, Ministry of Education; Institute of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710054, China.

Objective: To observe the impacts of continuous lumbar plexus block (CLPB) on postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) in elderly patients undergoing hip arthroplasty.
 Methods: Sixty elderly patients scheduled for hip arthroplasty with general anesthesia, were randomly allocated into a CLPB group and a PCIA group (n=30 each). In the CLPB group, lumbar plexus block was performed before trachea intubation, and CLPB was used for postoperative analgesia. Read More

World Neurosurg 2018 Dec 6;120:e970-e975. Epub 2018 Sep 6.

Orthopedic Department, the PLA General Hospital (301 Hospital), Beijing, China. Electronic address:

Background: Use of short-segment or long-segment fusion is controversial in treatment of adult lumbar degenerative scoliosis (ALDS). The aim of this study was to explore efficacy and feasibility of precision treatment of ALDS with selective nerve root block.

Methods: From January 2014 to January 2016, a retrospective study of 23 patients with ALDS treated with precision short-segment surgery with at least 2-year follow-up was performed. Read More

Dis Colon Rectum 2018 Oct;61(10):1205-1216

School of Medicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

Background: Intraperitoneal local anesthetic is an analgesic technique for inclusion in the polypharmacy approach to postoperative pain management in enhanced recovery after surgery programs. Previously, augmentation of epidural analgesia with intraperitoneal local anesthetic was shown to improve functional postoperative recovery following colectomy.

Objective: This study determines whether intraperitoneal local anesthetic improves postoperative recovery in patients undergoing colectomy, in the absence of epidural analgesia, with standardized enhanced recovery after surgery perioperative care. Read More

Trials 2018 Sep 4;19(1):473. Epub 2018 Sep 4.

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) may develop during partial nephrectomy due to ischemic reperfusion injury induced by renal artery clamping or surgical insult. The effect of remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) on reducing the renal injury after partial nephrectomy has not been evaluated in terms of urinary biomarkers.

Methods/design: We will conduct a randomized controlled trial enrolling the patients who will undergo partial nephrectomy. Read More

A A Pract 2018 Aug 31. Epub 2018 Aug 31.

From the Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio.

Regional anesthetic blocks, especially in-dwelling catheters, are infrequently used in neonates and infants. The following report describes a neonate with a gangrenous right upper extremity requiring multiple painful debridements over several weeks. A brachial plexus catheter was placed using ultrasound guidance, and a continuous infusion of a local anesthetic was used to provide postoperative pain control. Read More

J Clin Anesth 2019 Feb 25;52:21-23. Epub 2018 Aug 25.

Division of Regional Anesthesia & Acute Pain Management, Department of Anesthesiology, Westchester Medical Center/New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, United States of America.

J Vasc Interv Radiol 2018 09;29(9):1315-1317

Department of Anesthesiology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 3635 Vista Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63110.

J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth 2018 Jun 23. Epub 2018 Jun 23.

Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA. Electronic address:

Objective: Thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) is considered the gold standard for postoperative pain control in thoracic surgery, however it is associated with the undesirable risks of hypotension urinary retention, and bleeding. Recently, surgical site infiltration with liposomal bupivicaine (LB) has been suggested as a comparable alternative to TEA. The authors compared total opioid consumption in patients who received either TEA or LB undergoing video-assisted thorascopic surgery (VATS) for lobectomy. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Aug;97(34):e11731

Department of Anesthesiology, The First People's Hospital of Lianyungang, Lianyungang, China.

Background: To assess the effect of dexmedetomidine added to ropivaccaine on the onset and duration of sensory block, as well as postoperative analgesia during caudal anesthesia in patients undergoing hemorrhoidectomy.

Methods: Fifty adult patients scheduled for hemorrhoidectomy were divided into 2 groups. The group R received caudal anesthesia using 18 mL 0. Read More

Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2018 08 23;8:CD012047. Epub 2018 Aug 23.

Department of Otolaryngology, Kurashiki Central Hospital, 1-1-1 Miwa, Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan, 710-8602.

Background: Septal surgery is a well-established procedure used to treat nasal obstruction due to deviation of the nasal septum, which is carried out under local or general anaesthesia. Local anaesthesia is used for postoperative pain control, but its effectiveness and safety are unclear.

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of perioperative local anaesthesia for reducing pain in septal surgery and to evaluate the risk of associated complications. Read More

Indian J Ophthalmol 2018 09;66(9):1268-1271

Department of Anaesthesiology, Government Medical College, Haldwani, Uttarakhand, India.

Purpose: In this study, we intend to analyze ropivacaine and bupivacaine in various parameters during phacoemulsification under deep topical fornix nerve block (DTFNB), a known form of nerve block for phacoemulsification.

Methods: This prospective randomized study was conducted on 100 patients undergoing elective cataract surgery by phacoemulsification under DTFNB. Patients were divided into two equal groups of fifty patients each, Groups B (bupivacaine) and Group R (ropivacaine). Read More

A A Pract 2018 Aug 7. Epub 2018 Aug 7.

From the Department of Anesthesiology.

The sickle cell patient population continues to provide challenges in pain control. Current therapies include narcotic usage with adjuvant therapies such as anti-inflammatories and nonpharmacological interventions. Poor pain management in the sickle cell patient population, especially postoperatively, can lead to hypoventilation, escalating opioid requirements, poor recovery, and longer hospital stays. Read More

Cureus 2018 Jun 7;10(6):e2755. Epub 2018 Jun 7.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA.

The planning and implementation of an effective postoperative pain management program depend on the surgical technique for total knee arthroplasty (TKA), the type of regional anesthesia, and the multimodal analgesia regimen. It is imperative to understand the surgical anatomy of TKA and the relevant nerve supply of the knee for optimum perioperative patient satisfaction with respect to pain management in the patient undergoing TKA. The commonly used regional techniques have their own specific benefits and limitations. Read More

Anesthesiol Clin 2018 Sep 7;36(3):467-478. Epub 2018 Jul 7.

Anesthesiology and Perioperative Care Service, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Stanford University School of Medicine, 3801 Miranda Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA.

Demonstrating value added to patients' experience through regional anesthesiology and acute pain medicine is critical. Evidence supporting improved outcomes can be derived from prospective studies or retrospective cohort studies. Population-based studies relying on existing clinical and administrative databases are helpful when an outcome is rare and detecting a change would require studying large numbers of patients. Read More

Anesthesiol Clin 2018 Sep 11;36(3):403-415. Epub 2018 Jul 11.

Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, 3801 Miranda Avenue, MC 112A, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA; Anesthesiology and Perioperative Care Service, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, 3801 Miranda Avenue, MC 112A, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA.

In hip surgery, regional anesthesia offers benefits in pain management and recovery. There are a wide range of regional analgesic options; none have shown to be superior. Lumbar plexus block, femoral nerve block, and fascia iliaca block are the most supported by published literature. Read More

Anesthesiol Clin 2018 Sep 11;36(3):375-386. Epub 2018 Jul 11.

Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University Medical Center, 2301 Erwin Road, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Electronic address:

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs for orthopedics involve a multidisciplinary approach to accelerating return to function, reducing pain, improving patient comfort and satisfaction, reducing complications from the surgical procedure, reducing hospital length of stay, and reducing costs. ERAS pathways for patients receiving total knee arthroplasty are different from those having intracavitary surgery; they are less focused on fluid homeostasis and gut motility than they are with optimizing systemic and local analgesics and providing a balance between the highest quality pain control and accelerated return to ambulation. Read More

J Orthop Surg Res 2018 Aug 6;13(1):195. Epub 2018 Aug 6.

Department of Orthopedics, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, No. 386, Dazhong 1st Rd., Zuoying Dist., Kaohsiung City, 81362, Taiwan, Republic of China.

Background: The wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) technique is applied during various hand surgeries. We investigated the perioperative variables and clinical outcomes of open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) for distal radius fractures under WALANT.

Methods: From January 2015 to January 2017, 60 patients with distal radius fractures were treated, and 24 patients (40% of all) were treated with either a volar or a dorsal plate via WALANT procedure. Read More

Semin Pediatr Surg 2018 06 17;27(3):156-160. Epub 2018 May 17.

Department of Anesthesia and Division of Pain Management, Phoenix Children's Hospital, 1919 East Thomas Road 4th Floor, Perioperative, Phoenix, AZ 85016, United States.

Vet Rec 2018 08;183(5):164-165

Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.

J Minim Invasive Gynecol 2018 Jul 29. Epub 2018 Jul 29.

Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin (Dr. Giles).

Preemptive analgesia is an intervention provided before initiating painful stimuli that may reduce or prevent subsequent pain. This systematic review examines the evidence supporting the practice of preemptive analgesia in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery (MIGS). We searched PubMed, Cochrane Register for Controlled Trials, and Embase from inception through February 26, 2018. Read More

Reg Anesth Pain Med 2018 Nov;43(8):859-863

Fascia iliaca block or femoral nerve block is used frequently in hip fracture patients because of their opioid-sparing effects and reduction in opioid-related adverse effects. A recent anatomical study on hip innervation led to the identification of relevant landmarks to target the hip articular branches of femoral nerve and accessory obturator nerve. Using this information, we developed a novel ultrasound-guided approach for blockade of these articular branches to the hip, the PENG (PEricapsular Nerve Group) block. Read More

Int J Surg 2018 Sep 26;57:8-14. Epub 2018 Jul 26.

Department of Anaesthesiology, Second Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Road, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang, China. Electronic address:

Background: Thoracoscopic lobectomy is less painful than normal thoracotomy, but pain management is still an issue in the postoperative period. Thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) is considered as the gold standard for post-thoracotomy pain control, but is associated with numerous risks.

Methods: A total of 114 patients undergoing thoracoscopic lobectomy were randomly divided into three groups. Read More

Ann Card Anaesth 2018 Jul-Sep;21(3):333-338

Department of Cardiac Anaesthesiology, Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.

Background: Good postoperative analgesia in cardiac surgical patients helps in early recovery and ambulation. An alternative to parenteral, paravertebral, and thoracic epidural analgesia can be pectoralis nerve (Pecs) block, which is novel, less invasive regional analgesic technique.

Aims: We hypothesized that Pecs block would provide superior postoperative analgesia for patients undergoing cardiac surgery through midline sternotomy compared to parenteral analgesia. Read More