Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

J Pain Res 2019 11;12:953-960. Epub 2019 Mar 11.

Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, General Intensive Care Unit, Soroka Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel,

Background: Patients who undergo surgical procedures that impair the integrity of the chest wall frequently experience extremely severe postoperative pain. Opiates and weaker analgesics, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), are not sufficiently effective in achieving control of severe pain and might cause respiratory and gastrointestinal complications. In the past decade, there has been an increased interest in the use of regional nerve blocks for post-thoracoscopy and post-thoracotomy analgesia. Read More

Clin Colon Rectal Surg 2019 Mar 28;32(2):121-128. Epub 2019 Feb 28.

Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.

Pain control is an integral part of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) protocols for colorectal surgery. While opioid therapy remains the mainstay of therapy for postsurgical pain, opioids have undesired side effects including delayed recovery of bowel function, respiratory depression, and postoperative nausea and vomiting. A variety of nonopioid systemic medical therapies as well as regional and neuraxial techniques have been described as improving pain control while reducing opioid use. 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

Reg Anesth Pain Med 2019 Mar 3;44(3):319-324. Epub 2019 Feb 3.

Department of Anesthesiology, Hospital Servidor Público Estadual-Instituto de Assistência Médica ao Servidor Público Estadual, São Paulo, Brazil.

Background And Objectives: Elderly individuals have a greater sensitivity to sedation, and the most commonly used drugs for sedation are benzodiazepines, which exhibit some complication. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the use of dexmedetomidine and midazolam regarding proper sedation and postoperative complications in elderly individuals who require intraoperative sedation.

Methods: This study was a parallel-randomized clinical trial, which included 120 patients aged >70 years undergoing regional anesthesia and sedation. Read More

Urol Oncol 2019 Feb 16. Epub 2019 Feb 16.

Department of Urology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY. Electronic address:

Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility and outcomes of a nonopioid (NOP) perioperative pain management protocol for patients undergoing robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC).

Materials And Methods: We prospectively included 52 consecutive patients undergoing RARC at our institution for bladder cancer. Patients received a multimodal pain management protocol, including a combination of nonopioid pain medications and regional anesthesia. Read More

Int J Surg 2019 Mar 12;63:63-70. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

Department of Anesthesiology, Aretaieion University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece.

Background: This prospective double-blind randomized study aimed at evaluating the short- and long-term postoperative analgesic efficacy of the ultrasound-guided tranversus abdominis plane (TAP) block in inguinal hernia repair under general anesthesia.

Methods: Sixty patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair were allocated to TAP block with either ropivacaine 0.75% 20 mL or placebo 20 mL. Read More

Aesthetic Plast Surg 2019 Apr 12;43(2):297-304. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Istanbul Medipol University, 34000, Bagcilar, Istanbul, Turkey.

Background: PECS type-1 block, a US-guided superficial interfacial block, provides effective analgesia after breast surgery. Aesthetic breast augmentation is one of the most common surgical procedures in plastic surgery. Subpectoral prostheses cause severe pain. 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

Reg Anesth Pain Med 2019 Feb;44(2):228-233

AI Mana General Hospital, AI Rowda, AI Hofoof wal Mubarraz, Al-Mubarraz, Saudi Arabia.

Background And Objectives: The major concern after inguinal hernioplasty is chronic postsurgical pain and impaired quality of life due to central sensitization. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative pre-emptive analgesia using regional techniques may help prevent the development of central sensitization. This study evaluated the effect of regional anesthesia followed by continuous regional analgesia on postoperative pain and functional outcome following inguinal hernioplasty. Read More

BMC Health Serv Res 2019 Jan 25;19(1):68. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

Department of Anesthesia, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.

Background: There is little information about the current management of pain after obstetric surgery at Mulago hospital in Uganda, one of the largest hospitals in Africa with approximately 32,000 deliveries per year. The primary goal of this study was to assess the severity of post cesarean section pain. Secondary objectives were to identify analgesic medications used to control post cesarean section pain and resultant patient satisfaction. Read More

Cureus 2018 Nov 16;10(11):e3603. Epub 2018 Nov 16.

Anesthesiology, Ataturk University School of Medicine, Erzurum, TUR.

Pain control is an important administration of postoperative management in lumbar spinal surgery, and multimodal analgesia is most likely an important strategy in reducing postoperative spinal surgery. Erector spinae plane (ESP) block is a recently described regional anaesthesia technique that blocks the dorsal and ventral rami of the spinal nerves and the sympathetic nerve fibers. While the ESP block has been shown to provide effective postoperative analgesia after thoracic, breast, and abdominal surgery in case reports and randomised controlled studies, there are only a few case series that report that an ultrasonography (US)-guided bilateral ESP block provides effective postoperative analgesia in lumbar surgery. Read More

Reg Anesth Pain Med 2019 Jan 23. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark

Background And Objectives: A substantial group of patients suffer from moderate to severe pain following elective total hip arthroplasty (THA). Due to the complex innervation of the hip, peripheral nerve block techniques can be challenging and are not widely used. Since the obturator nerve innervates both the anteromedial part of the joint capsule as well as intra-articular nociceptors, we hypothesized that an obturator nerve block (ONB) would decrease the opioid consumption after THA. Read More

Ann Ital Chir 2018 ;89:552-555

Introduction: Accordingly with the new physiopathologic insights of the 70s and 80s, hemorrhoidal disease appears to originate not much from venous hyperplasia but rather from a progressive deterioration of connective and support tissues with subsequent venous and mucosal prolapse. In the late 90s a new surgical technique for a more physiological treatment of hemorrhoids was introduced: stapled prolassectomy.

Materials And Methods: Between October 2017 and June 2018 we performed 50 hemorrhoidal stapled prolassectomies under local-regional anesthesia. Read More

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 Aug 11;55:116-127. Epub 2019 Jan 11.

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 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

Am J Sports Med 2019 Feb 17;47(2):355-363. 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

J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2019 Feb 10;28(2):212-219. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Ile-de-France Ouest, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Boulogne-Billancourt, France; Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Versailles, France.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of local infiltration analgesia (LIA) and interscalene nerve block (ISB) for early postoperative pain control after total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). The hypothesis was that LIA is not inferior to ISB.

Methods: A prospective, randomized controlled study was performed in 2014-2016. Read More

Orthopedics 2019 Jan 13;42(1):e93-e98. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) is used for various hand surgeries, but there are no reports of its use for distal radius fractures. The authors compared perioperative variables and clinical outcomes for volar plating for distal radius fractures with WALANT vs general anesthesia with tourniquet. This retrospective study included 47 patients who presented with distal radius fractures between January 2015 and February 2017. 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

Vet Anaesth Analg 2019 01 20;46(1):141-143. Epub 2018 Sep 20.

The Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, UK.

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

Indian J Dent Res 2018 Sep-Oct;29(5):611-615

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Dr. D. Y. Patil Dental College and Hospital, Pimpri, Pune, Maharashtra, India.

Background: Two percent lidocaine hydrochloride is the gold standard for dental anesthesia against which newer local anesthetic agents may be compared. 0.75% ropivacaine is a newer, long-acting amide local anesthetic agent with inherent vasoconstriction property. Read More

Agri 2018 Oct;30(4):183-188

Department of Anestesiology, Numune Hospital, Sivas, Turkey.

Objectives: We aimed to retrospectively investigate the efficacy of ultrasound guided rectus sheath block (RSB) method in our study.

Methods: We scanned 235 patient files operated for abdominal pathology. Patients meeting the criteria were evaluated for intra-operative rectus sheath block and two different groups were formed. Read More

Agri 2018 Oct;30(4):179-182

Department of Anaesthesiology, Reanimation and Pain, Dr. Ersin Arslan Research and Training Hospital, Gaziantep, Turkey.

Objectives: Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) has been effectively treated by radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RFT) of the gasserian ganglion. Recently, pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) is becoming an alternative therapy for patients with trigeminal neuralgia. It is unclear whether the combination of RFT with PRF may decrease post-operative complications while maintaining longterm pain relief. Read More

Agri 2018 Oct;30(4):171-178

Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, University of Health Sciences, Bursa Yüksekİhtisas Training and Research Hospital, Bursa, Turkey.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of ultrasound guided superficial cervical plexus (SCP) block versus greater auricular nerve (GAN) block for on postoperative tympanomastoid surgery analgesia.

Methods: In this prospective, randomized, single-blind study, a total of 50 patients aged between 25 and 70 years, those who were in the American Society of Anesthesiologists I-II class and underwent tympanomastoid surgery were included in the study. Patients were randomized to either Group Y: intravenous patient-controlled analgesia tramadol (IV PCA) + SCP block; n=25 and Group G: IV PCA + GAN block; n=25. 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

Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg 2018 11 29;56(5):699-708. Epub 2018 Jun 29.

Academic Vascular Surgery, Hull-York Medical School, Hull Royal Infirmary, Hull, UK.

Objective/background: Endovenous thermal ablation (EVTA) is the recommended first line intervention for superficial venous incompetence (SVI). While the infiltration of perivenous tumescent local anaesthesia (TLA) is key to procedural success, it is paradoxically the predominant source of patient reported discomfort. This randomised controlled trial investigates the potential to reduce peri-procedural pain and improve patient reported outcome measures (PROMs), including quality of life (QoL) using TLA buffered to physiological pH. 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

Anesthesiol Clin 2018 Dec 12;36(4):701-713. Epub 2018 Oct 12.

Division of Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain, Department of Anesthesiology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Biomedical Informatics, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. Electronic address:

Anemia is a decrease in red blood cell mass, which hinders oxygen delivery to tissues. Preoperative anemia has been shown to be associated with mortality and morbidity following major surgery. The preoperative care clinic is an ideal place to start screening for anemia and discussing potential interventions in order to optimize patients for surgery. 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

Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol 2018 Jun 3;32(2):83-99. Epub 2018 Jul 3.

Department of Anesthesiology, LSU Health Sciences Center, Room 653, 1542 Tulane Ave., New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA. Electronic address:

Regional and neuraxial anesthesia can provide a safer perioperative experience, greater satisfaction, reduced opioid consumption, and reduction of pain, while minimizing side effects. Ultrasound technology has aided clinicians in depositing local anesthetic medication in precise proximity to targeted peripheral nerves. There are a plethora of adjuvants that have been utilized to prolong local anesthetic actions and enhance effects in peripheral nerve blocks. 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

Pain Physician 2018 09;21(5):469-481

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Management, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University.

Background: Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a neurological syndrome characterized by paroxysmal, lightning-like, severe pain in the facial area innervated by the trigeminal nerve. Patients who do not respond well to drug treatment can undergo a nerve block, a traditional conservative treatment. Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) is a nondestructive pain intervention technique. 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 Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A 2019 Jan 27;29(1):65-71. Epub 2018 Sep 27.

2 Clinic for Surgery, University Clinical Center Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Background: Laparoscopic surgery causes less pain than traditional surgery; however, to relieve postoperative pain, surgeons frequently apply local anesthetic preemptively. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of different local anesthetics on pain intensity in patients who had undergone a laparoscopic appendectomy (LA), who received the anesthetic preemptively at incision sites and postemptively, intraperitoneally and trocar sites.

Patients And Methods: A total of 120 LA patients (men and women) were randomly assigned to 1 of the 4 groups (N = 30/group): Group 1: no peritoneal or local administration of local anesthetics during LA; Group 2: 5 mL of 1% lidocaine was applied at incision sites and 10 mL 1% lidocaine was injected under direct vision in the right iliac fossa area and around the stump of the appendix and trocar sites at the end of the procedure; Group 3: 5 mL of 0. 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