Adductor Canal Block or Local Infiltrate Analgesia for Pain Control After Total Knee Arthroplasty? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Background

Total knee arthroplasty is a treatment option for debilitating arthritis. In the postoperative period, patients experience moderate to severe pain affecting the rehabilitation, hospital stay, and patient satisfaction. This study aims at utilizing current best evidence to determine whether adductor canal block (ACB) or periarticular injection (PAI) is a better modality for managing short-term postoperative pain and opioid consumption.

Dexamethasone as an adjuvant for peripheral nerve blockade: a randomised,triple-blinded crossover study in volunteers

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. nor perineurally administered dexamethasone prolongs the sensory block achieved with ropivacaine.

Distribution patterns of transforaminal injections in the cervical spine evaluated by multi-slice computed tomography

Transforaminal injections are sometimes used for the diagnosis and treatment of painful conditions in the lumbar and to a lesser degree in the cervical spine. The technique is most often used when investigating/treating radiculopathy caused by degenerative disease. But how selective are the nerve root blocks? What possible structures other than the intended nerve root are affected from such injections? This study was undertaken in order to try to answer these questions, as no study focusing on the possible spread from the transforaminal selective nerve root blocks in the cervical spine has been performed earlier. In three groups of patients, each group including three patients, we injected three different volumes (0.6, 1.1 and 1.7 ml) with a transforaminal technique in the cervical spine. In all the injections, a small amount of contrast media was added. The spread of the injections were then investigated using multi-slice computed tomography with reconstructions. The imaging revealed a possible effect on other nerve roots than the intended ones when a larger volume was used for the root blocks. The spread was related to the injected volume as well as to local anatomy (size of foraminal area). In this study, only 0.6-ml injections could be accepted for being selective enough for diagnostic investigations.     

Use of paracervical analgesia for outpatient hysteroscopic surgery: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Twenty-five women receiving sedation for outpatient hysteroscopic polypectomy were injected with 0.25% bupivacaine 10 mL (paracervical group) and another 25 received the same volume of saline (control group) at the cervical fornix. Both groups were given target-controlled propofol sedation during the procedure. More propofol (mg/min) was needed for adequate anesthesia in the control group compared to the paracervical group (6.5 versus 4.6). In addition, the postoperative pain scores were lower in the paracervical group than in the control group. Hemodynamic changes and postoperative side effects were similar in the two groups. This prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study confirmed the effective use of paracervical blocks. This approach has the effect of reducing the amount of intraoperative propofol and decreasing postoperative pain in outpatient hysteroscopic surgery.     

颈丛阻滞、硬膜外阻滞下甲状腺手术应激反应的比较

目的 :比较颈丛阻滞、硬膜外阻滞下甲状腺手术应激反应的大小。方法 :选择ASAⅠ～Ⅱ级 ,女性 ,甲状腺手术患者 30例 ,年龄 2 2～ 5 5岁 ,术前无呼吸、循环和内分泌疾病 ,随机分为颈丛阻滞组 (颈丛组 ) 15例 ,硬膜外阻滞组(硬膜外组 ) 15例 ;颈丛阻滞选用 0 .8%利多卡因和 0 .2 5 %布比卡因混合液 ,以C4一点法行双侧深浅丛阻滞 ;硬膜外阻滞选用 1.3%利多卡因和 0 .15 %丁卡因混合液 ,穿刺点选择C4～ 5或C5～ 6间隙 ,采用侧卧位直入法 ,并向头置管 3cm ;分别测定并记录麻醉前、麻醉后 2 0min、切皮、分上极、切腺体和术毕共六个时点的血糖、血压和心率的变化。结果 :两组病例各时点血糖均逐步上升 ,于分上极、切腺体和术毕血糖值与麻醉前比较有显著性差异 (P <0 .0 1) ;硬膜外组只在分上极时SBP与麻醉前比较有差异外 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,而颈丛组在分上极、切腺体时DBP与麻醉前比较有差异 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,SBP、MAP与麻醉前比较有显著性差异 (P <0 .0 1)。结论 :本研究表明颈丛阻滞、硬膜外阻滞均不能完全抑制甲状腺手术的应激反应 ,在稳定甲状腺手术循环功能方面硬膜外阻滞优于颈丛阻滞     

完全性左束支传导阻滞伴快速心房纤颤并急性左心衰竭的抢救

目的总结完全性左束支传导阻滞伴快速心房纤颤并急性左心衰竭的治疗经验,以提高抢救成功率.方法对经抢救治疗的完全性左束支传导阻滞伴快速心房纤颤并急性左心衰竭9例(16次)患者进行治疗方面的回顾分析.结果9例(16次)患者14次抢救成功,成功率87.0%,但复发率较高,预后较差,有5例患者在抢救时或出院后1～2年内猝死.结论该组患者经传统"强心、利尿、扩血管",控制心房纤颤、心室率等治疗是远远不够的.应在未发生肺泡性肺水肿及心源性休克之前,尽早尽快地应用血管扩张剂及联合应用小剂量非洋地黄类正性肌力药物,并维持治疗24～72 h.其中以酚妥拉明加多巴胺和(或)多巴酚丁胺效果可能较佳,血管扩张剂硝酸酯类不及α-受体阻滞剂酚妥拉明疗效明显.     

Safety and reliability of external fixation for basicervical and intertrochanteric fractures in high-risk elderly patients

Forty elderly patients with basicervical and pertrochanteric fractures were managed with uniplanar AO external fixator under regional anaesthetic block of the femoral nerve and lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh from April 2003 to March 2006. The mean age of the patients was 67.9 ± 5.5 years. External fixator application was performed under radiological control after closed reduction had been obtained. Comorbid factors, duration of surgery, duration of hospitalisation, complications, walking ability, time to union and mortality rate were recorded. Patients were followed up for a mean period of 12 ± 4.5 months. Superficial pin tract infection occurred in 13 patients, healing in varus >10° and with shortening >2 cm occurred in six patients, and one patient suffered a spontaneous ipsilateral femoral neck fracture after removal of the fixator. The mean time for union was 10.4 ± 1.2 weeks. Rapid union rate and minor complications obtained in the present study are comparable to those obtained with standard internal fixation techniques. Minimal intraoperative blood loss, short operative time and early patient mobilisation are advantages signifying uniplanar external fixator application under regional anaesthetic block to be a viable option in treatment of basicervical and pertrochanteric fractures in high-risk elderly patients.     

Priming with a very low dose of DNA complexed with cationic block copolymers followed by protein boost elicits broad and long-lasting antigen-specific humoral and cellular responses in mice

Cationic block copolymers spontaneously assemble via electrostatic interactions with DNA molecules in aqueous solution giving rise to micellar structures that protect the DNA from enzymatic degradation both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, we have previously shown that they are safe, not immunogenic and greatly increased antigen-specific CTL responses following six intramuscular inoculations of a very low dose (1 μg) of the vaccine DNA as compared to naked DNA. Nevertheless, they failed to elicit detectable humoral responses against the antigen. To gain further insight in the potential application of this technology, here we show that a shorter immunization protocol based on two DNA intramuscular inoculations of 1 μg of DNA delivered by these copolymers and a protein boost elicits in mice broad (both humoral and cellular) and long-lasting responses and increases the antigen-specific Th1-type T cell responses and CTLs as compared to priming with naked DNA. These results indicate that cationic block copolymers represent a promising adjuvant and delivery technology for DNA vaccination strategies aimed at combating intracellular pathogens.     

Second‐degree atrioventricular block (Mobitz Type I) in an adolescent with anorexia nervosa: Intrinsic or acquired conduction abnormality

Anorexia nervosa (AN) can cause both functional and structural cardiac complications, including a variety of different conduction abnormalities. This is the first case report of symptomatic diurnal second‐degree atrioventricular (AV) block (Mobitz Type I) in an adolescent with AN. We present a 12‐year‐old girl with AN, restrictor sub‐type who reported cardiac symptoms during weight gain, at the time of the initial diagnosis of AV block. Second‐degree AV block (Mobitz Type I) is discussed as a possible complication of the AN, as well as being an intrinsic conduction system disease. © 2009 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2009     

A Complication of Stellate Ganglion Block?

Abstract: Stellate ganglion block is commonly used to treat the sympathetically maintained pain which may occur in one‐third of patients with complex regional pain syndrome type 1. A complication that followed a single block and presented a diagnostic dilemma for the ophthalmologist is reported.