Feasibility,safety and outcome of inguinal hernia repair under spinal versus general anesthesia in preterm and term infants

BackgroundInguinal hernia repair (IHR) is a common operation in preterm and term infants. Recently, spinal anesthesia (SA) has been proposed as an alternative to avoid exposure to general anesthesia (GA) during early life. The aim of this study was to compare surgical outcomes of open IHR performed under SA versus GA in neonates and infants, and to detect criteria to predict the success or failure of SA.Materials and methodsThis is a 6-year, single center, nonrandomized interventional study (2013–2019). SA was performed with 0.5% bupivacaine. GA was given using propofol, fentanyl, sevoflurane, and laryngeal mask. Patient demographics, operative time, intraoperative events related to surgery or anesthesia, and complications were analyzed at short and long-term follow-up.Results68 infants (78 IHR) and 37 infants (44 IHR) received SA and GA at the discretion of the anesthesiologist, respectively. SA failure rate was 9%, and positively correlated with weight at surgery (p = 0.001; r_p = 0.38). Conversion from SA to GA occurred in 4 (6%) patients owing to prolonged operative time (43.75 ± 4.8 vs 23.02 ± 11.3 min; p = 0.0006). There were no differences regarding operative time and intra- and postoperative complications among the two groups at mean follow-up of 18.53 ± 21.9 months.ConclusionsThis pilot study confirms that SA is safe, effective and not detrimental to surgical outcome of neonates and infants undergoing IHR. Additionally, it may help further define what patients may have a successful SA. Our experience suggests that SA is especially suitable in infants weighing < 4000 g, and conversion to GA correlates with prolonged operative time.Level of evidenceLevel II.     

Laparoscopic total extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair under spinal anesthesia: a study of 480 patients

OBJECTIVES: Laparoscopic total extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair (TEP) is conventionally performed under general anesthesia (GA), and regional anesthesia is usually preferred in patients where GA is contraindicated. In this paper, we present our experience of over 8 years of using spinal anesthesia (SA) as the first choice with the contention that it is a better alternative to GA. METHODS: SA was used in 480 patients over the last 8 years, and 464 patients underwent unilateral TEP. Strangulated and obstructed hernia patients were excluded, but irreducible hernia patients were included. Sedation was given if required, and the conversion to GA was done in patients not responding to sedation or with failure of SA. Comparative control included TEP performed under GA in our initial 49 patients. RESULTS: Three (0.63%) patients required a conversion to GA. Hypotension requiring support was recorded in 75 (15.63%) patients. Postoperatively, 2.08% (10) patients had vomiting, as compared to 30.61% (15 patients) in patients administered GA. In all, 35.83% (172) of patients required injectable diclofenac for their abdominal pain within 2 hours postoperatively, and oral analgesic was required in 301 (62.71%) patients within the first 24 hours, while 89.80% (44) patients operated an under GA required injectable analgesics in the immediate postoperative period and subsequent oral analgesia request was the same as in patients with SA. Postural headache, persisting for an average of 2.6 days, was seen in 25 (5.21%) patients postoperatively. Average time to discharge was 2.3 days. Kernofsky's performance status showed a 98.6% satisfaction level in patients. CONCLUSIONS: TEP done under SA has a number of advantages over GA and should be used routinely.     

Spinal anesthesia for preterm infants undergoing inguinal hernia repair

HYPOTHESES: Use of spinal anesthesia is safe and effective in an outpatient population of preterm infants undergoing inguinal hernia repair (IHR) and eliminates routine postoperative hospital admission for apnea monitoring. METHODS: From October 1982 through October 1997, all preterm (gestational age [GA], < or =37 weeks), high-risk (preterm infants whose postconceptual age at surgery [PCAS] is <60 weeks) infants undergoing IHR with spinal anesthesia were studied prospectively. No exclusions were made for preexisting conditions. Elective IHRs and incarcerated hernias were both considered. A postoperative apnea rate was calculated and compared with published postoperative apnea rates in preterm infants after receiving general anesthesia. RESULTS: For 269 IHRs performed, 262 spinal anesthetic placements (97.3%) were successful in 259 infants; 246 placements were achieved on the first attempt and 16 on the second. The mean GA was 32 weeks (GA range, 24-37 weeks); mean PCAS, 43.7 weeks (PCAS range, 33.4-59.3 weeks); and mean birth weight, 1688 g (weight range, 540-3950 g). Two hundred six patients (78.6 %) did not require supplemental anesthesia; 56 (21.4%) did: 34 received intravenous anesthesia; 6, general; 12, local; and 4, other regional. One hundred fifty-three infants had a history of apnea. Thirteen episodes of apnea were noted in 13 infants (4.9%) following the 262 procedures; all 13 were inpatients undergoing concomitant therapy for apnea (mean GA, 28 weeks; PCAS, 42.9 weeks). Four of these infants received supplemental anesthesia. This apnea rate is significantly lower than the published rate (10%-30%) (P = .01). One hundred three infants underwent IHR on an outpatient basis, 39 of whom had a history of apnea. None of these developed apnea postoperatively. The mean birth weight of this group was 2091 g (weight range, 710-3693 g); mean GA, 33 weeks (GA range, 25-37 weeks); and mean PCAS, 44.3 weeks (PCAS range, 35.4-59.2 weeks). All 103 patients were discharged home the day of surgery. Average time from room entry to incision was 26.3 minutes, which is similar to anesthesia induction time for patients receiving general anesthesia. Average time from bandaging to leaving room was 1 minute, less than usual time for patients receiving general anesthesia. CONCLUSIONS: Spinal anesthesia is safe, effective, and eliminates the need for postoperative hospital admission in an outpatient population of preterm infants undergoing IHR. This results in considerable cost savings without compromising quality of care.     

Spinal versus general anesthesia for orthopedic surgery: anesthesia drug and supply costs

Total hip or knee replacement surgeries are common orthopedic interventions that can be performed with spinal anesthesia (SA) or general anesthesia (GA). No study has investigated the economic aspects associated with the two anesthetic techniques for this common surgery. We randomized 40 patients to receive either SA or GA and analyzed the drug and supply costs for anesthesia und recovery. Anesthesia-related times, hemodynamic variables, and pain scores were also recorded. Total costs per case without personnel costs were almost half in the SA group compared with the GA group; this was a result of less cost for anesthesia (P < 0.01) and for recovery (P < 0.05). This finding was supported by a sensitivity analysis. There were no relevant differences regarding anesthesia-related times. Patients in the GA group were admitted to the postanesthesia care unit with a higher pain score and needed more analgesics than patients in the SA group (both P < 0.01). We conclude that SA is a more cost-effective alternative to GA in patients undergoing hip or knee replacement, as it is associated with lower fixed and variable costs. Moreover, SA seems to be more effective, as patients in the SA group showed lower postoperative pain scores during their stay in the postanesthesia care unit.     

Paravertebral block: an alternative to general anesthesia in breast cancer surgery

Alternative forms of anesthesia in breast cancer patients have been sought to reduce the untoward effects of general anesthesia. The purpose of this study was to compare paravertebral block (PVB) and general anesthesia (GA) in terms of pain control, postoperative nausea and vomiting, and resumption of diet in patients undergoing operations for breast cancer. A retrospective chart review was performed on all patients (289) undergoing breast cancer surgery from May 1, 1999 through December 31, 2000 with PVB or GA. The PVB (n = 128) and GA (n = 100) groups had similar demographics. Postoperative narcotics were given to 80.8 and 93 per cent of PVB and GA patients, respectively (P < 0.01), after an average of 216 and 122 minutes from the end of surgery (P = 0.028). The PVB group received 6.2 narcotic units compared with 10.1 in the GA group (P = 0.04). Postoperative nausea and vomiting was present in 16.8 and 24 per cent of patients in the PVB and GA groups, respectively (P = 0.12). A diet was tolerated on the same day of surgery by 98.4 and 82 per cent of PVB and GA patients, respectively (P < 0.01). The complication rate of PVB was 1.8 per cent. PVB resulted in better postoperative pain control and earlier resumption of diet compared with GA. The good success rate and low complication rate of PVB make it well suited for breast cancer surgery and can eliminate the need for GA in patients with serious comorbidities.     

Paravertebral blockade for minor breast surgery.

Paravertebral blockade (PVB) has been advocated as a useful technique for breast surgery. We prospectively compared the efficacy of PVB via a catheter technique with the efficacy of general anesthesia (GA) for minor breast surgery. Thirty patients were randomized into two groups to receive either PVB or GA. Variables of efficacy were postoperative pain measured on a visual analog scale, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), recovery time, and patient satisfaction. Postoperative visual analog scale scores in the PVB group were significantly lower in the early postoperative period (maximum, 12 vs 45 mm; P < 0.01). In both groups, PONV was nearly absent. There was no difference in recovery time. Patient satisfaction was better in the PVB group (2.8 vs 2.3; scale, 0-3; P < 0.01). There was one inadvertent epidural block and one inadvertent pleural puncture in the PVB group. Although PVB resulted in better postoperative pain relief, the advantages over GA were marginal in this patient group because postoperative pain was relatively mild and the incidence of PONV was small. Considering that the technique has a certain complication rate, we conclude that at present the risk/benefit ratio of PVB does not favor routine use for minor breast surgery. IMPLICATIONS: This study confirms the previously reported superior pain relief after paravertebral blockade (PVB) for breast surgery. However, considering the relatively mild postoperative pain and therefore the limited advantage of PVB for these patients, the risk/benefit ratio does not favor the routine use of PVB for minor breast surgery.     

Efficacy,safety, and reliability of surgery on the lumbar spine under general versus spinal anesthesia- an analysis of 64 cases

Quasi-experimental design purposeCompare intra and postoperative parameters, surgeons’ satisfaction, and cost-effectiveness between general anesthesia (GA) and spinal anesthesia (SA) on patients undergoing surgery in the lumbar spine surgery.Overview of literatureSurgery on the lumbar spine is the commonest surgical procedure among all spinal surgical practices. Both the GA and SA are shown to be suitable techniques for performing the surgery safely. GA is used most frequently. But, SA became increasingly more popular because it allows the patient to self-position thereby reducing various complications associated with GA in a prone position.MethodsA total of 64 patients from June 2016 to July 2019 who underwent either discectomy, laminectomy, or lamino-foraminotomy for herniated lumbar disc or canal stenosis in 1 or 2 levels were included. During the study period, 32 patients were non-randomly selected for each of the GA and SA groups. The heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), blood loss, total anesthetic time, surgeons’ satisfaction, analgesic requirements, cost of the procedure, and hospital stay were recorded and compared.ResultsIn the context of demographic characteristics, baseline HR, or MAP, no significant differences were noted between SA and GA groups. Mean anesthetic time, mean PACU time, mean doses of analgesic requirement, cost of anesthesia, and the surgeon’s satisfaction was significantly lower in the SA Group (P < 0.05). The blood loss, duration of operation, and hospital stay were not significant too. No major Intra and postoperative complications were reported nor were significant differences found in either series.ConclusionSafety and efficacy of SA in comparison to GA were similar for the patients undergoing surgery on the lumbar spine. Notable advantages of SA include shorter anesthesia duration, fewer drug requirements, relative cost-effectiveness, and fewer complications rate. Successful surgery can be performed using either anesthesia type.     

Comparison of outcomes of using spinal versus general anesthesia in total hip arthroplasty

Blood loss, operative time, and rate of complications were compared in 606 patients undergoing primary unilateral total hip arthroplasty with either spinal anesthesia (SA) or general anesthesia (GA). Patients were followed for 2 years after surgery. Compared with GA, SA resulted in mean reductions of 12% in operative time, 25% in estimated intraoperative blood loss, 38% in rate of operative blood loss, and 50% in intraoperative transfusion requirements. Compared with patients receiving GA, patients receiving SA had higher hemoglobin levels on postoperative days 1 and 2 and a 20% lower total transfusion requirement. SA appears superior to GA for this procedure.     

Single-injection paravertebral block before general anesthesia enhances analgesia after breast cancer surgery with and without associated lymph node biopsy

Paravertebral block (PVB) seems to decrease postoperative pain and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after breast surgery, but the studies have not been placebo controlled. We studied 60 patients scheduled for breast cancer surgery randomly given single-injection PVB at T3 with bupivacaine 5 mg/mL (1.5 mg/kg) or saline before general anesthesia. The patient and attending investigators were blinded; the PVB or the sham block was performed behind a curtain by an anesthesiologist not involved in the study. The patients given PVB with bupivacaine needed 40% less IV opioid medication (primary outcome variable) in the postanesthesia care unit, had a longer latency to the first opioid dose, and had less pain at rest after 24 h than the control patients (P < 0.01). They also had less PONV in the postanesthesia care unit (P < 0.05), were less sedated until 90 min (P < 0.05), and performed better in the digit symbol substitution test at 90 min and the ocular coordination test 60-120 min after surgery (P < 0.05). The average peak bupivacaine plasma concentration was 750 ng/mL. One patient had bilateral convulsions immediately after bupivacaine injection. We conclude that PVB before general anesthesia for breast cancer surgery reduced postoperative pain, opioid consumption, and occurrence of PONV and improved recovery from anesthesia.     

Ureteroscopic lithotripsy combined with paravertebral block anesthesia or general anesthesia: A propensity matched case–control study

BackgroundTo evaluate the safety, efficacy and cost of paravertebral block anesthesia for ureteral stones patients undergoing ureteroscopic lithotripsy.MethodsFour hundred and eighty-two patients who underwent ureteroscopy for unilateral ureteral stones were incorporated into our retrospective study. A propensity-matched comparison in patients with paravertebral nerve block anesthesia (PVB) group and general anesthesia (GA) group was performed. Intraoperative hemodynamic parameters, operative time, visual analog scale for pain, stone-free rate, anesthetic cost and postoperative hospital stay were compared between the two groups.ResultsSixty-one GA cases were propensity matched to 61 PVB cases. In the PVB group, all the procedures were completed successfully without anesthesia conversion. Significantly less intraoperative severe hypotensive (P = 0.002) and arrhythmia (P < 0.001) episodes in PVB group. There were no significant differences in operative time (p = 0.702), initial stone-free rate (p = 0.686), and total stone-free rate (p = 0.794) between the two groups. The PVB group had lower postoperative pain and prolonged analgesia (p = 0.007). The postoperative hospital stay in the PVB group was significantly shorter (3.20 ± 0.73 vs 3.84 ± 1.32 d, p = 0.001). And the cost of anesthesia was lower in the PVB group (195.47 ± 13.01 vs 396.31 ± 36.45 US dollars, p < 0.001).ConclusionUnder PVB anesthesia, URS can be successfully completed without anesthetic transformation, and its efficacy and safety have been demonstrated. When economic aspects are taken into consideration, PVB seems to be a more economical and effective anesthetic method of URS.     

Comparison of analgesics used during balanced anesthesia on the incidence of PONV

BACKGROUND: When we make reference to the quality of anesthesia, we consider three points, early emergence, postoperative pain relief, and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Among these, PONV is comparatively neglected. Many analgesics used during anesthesia may cause PONV. METHODS: The incidence of PONV was assessed in 100 surgical patients who had received balanced anesthesia. Anesthesia was induced with propofol, ketamine, midazolam and buprenorphine (Group P), or butorphanol (Group T), and vecuronium was given to facilitate tracheal intubation. The patients received balanced anesthesia with infusion of propofol, ketamine, vecuronium, and either buprenorphine (Group P) or butorphanol (Group T), with nitrous oxide. PONV was recorded for 24 hours postoperatively. RESULTS: Incidences of nausea were 27.1% in Group P and 15.8% in Group T (NS). Incidences of vomiting were 12.5% in Group P and 5.3% in Group T (NS). However, a high incidence of PONV was found in female (42.2%) vs. male (6.2%) (P < 0.01) and in over 25 BMI group (34.5%) vs. under 25 BMI group (15.5%) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The type of analgesics used during balanced anesthesia is not important for development of PONV, but patient's factors, such as gender and BMI, are more closely associated with PONV.     

腹腔镜肝胆手术后恶心呕吐的影响因素分析

目的:分析腹腔镜肝胆手术后恶心呕吐(PONV)的影响因素.方法:选择2016年3月至2019年5月364例行肝胆手术的患者作为研究对象.采用PONV评分进行分级,>2分视为发生PONV;回顾性收集患者一般信息、手术与麻醉信息、心理情绪特征、术后镇痛用药.根据是否发生PONV,将364例患者分为PONV组(n=104)与...     

Paravertebral blockade with propofol sedation versus general anesthesia for elective endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

The objective of this study was to evaluate the applicability of paravertebral blockade (PVB) for endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair compared with general anesthesia (GA).Data from patients who underwent elective infrarenal endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair between August 2001 and July 2002 using PVB or GA were retrospectively reviewed and compared with respect to risk factors, intraoperative hemodynamic characteristics, operative outcome, and complications.Ten patients underwent elective infrarenal endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair under PVB, whereas 15 patients were operated on under GA. One conversion from PVB to GA was necessary for block failure. The perioperative (< 30 days) cardiovascular morbidity and overall mortality were zero in both groups. The PVB group benefited significantly with respect to the incidence of intraoperative hypotension (p < .05) and blood pressure lability (p < .01), as well as postoperative nausea (p < .01). Our preliminary results indicate that PVB is feasible and can be performed safely in a patient population with significant comorbidities.     

腹腔镜下经腹腹膜前疝无张力修补术治疗隐匿性疝的临床研究

目的 探讨腹腔镜下经腹腹膜前疝无张力修补术治疗隐匿性腹股沟疝的临床疗效,减少单侧腹股沟疝术后对侧假性复发的发生率.方法 回顾性分析南昌大学第二附属医院胃肠外科2017年1 月至2019年7月收治的单侧腹股沟疝行手术治疗的2 155 例病人,其中1 105 例病人行开放性疝修补术,927例病人行腹腔镜经腹腹膜前疝修补术(...     

Caudal epidural anesthesia administered intraoperatively provides for effective postoperative analgesia after total hip arthroplasty

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To investigate the use of caudal epidural anesthesia for postoperative pain after total hip arthroplasty. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: University-affiliated hospital. PATIENTS: 32 (4 men and 28 women) patients, aged 49 to 89 years, scheduled for total hip arthroplasty for osteoarthritis of the hip. INTERVENTIONS AND MEASUREMENTS: Patients were allocated to three groups: lumbar epidural anesthesia (EA group; n = 16) or caudal epidural anesthesia (CA group; n = 16) groups, which were case-matched according to patient demographics. Nine patients received general anesthesia only (GA group). We evaluated the level of postoperative pain using a 100-mm Visual Analog Scale (VAS) recorded at 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 hours after surgery. MAIN RESULTS: Total requirement of diclofenac sodium suppositories was significantly larger in the GA group than in the EA or CA groups (444 +/- 302 vs 188 +/- 124 and 145 +/- 130 mg). The number of days requiring analgesics was significantly prolonged in the GA group compared with the EA or CA groups (14 +/- 9 vs 4 +/- 3 and 4 +/- 4 days). These items were similar between the EA group and the CA group. All VAS values for pain, rest, and movement in the postsurgical period over 24 hours were significantly higher in the GA group than in either the EA or CA groups. CONCLUSIONS: Caudal epidural anesthesia provides effective postoperative analgesia similar to lumbar epidural anesthesia.     

Laparoscopic total extraperitoneal (TEP) inguinal hernia repair under epidural anesthesia: a detailed evaluation

Background Laparoscopic total extraperitoneal (TEP) inguinal hernia repair is as efficacious as the open Lichtenstein procedure, can be learned with proper training, and causes less postoperative pain, better cosmesis, and earlier return to work. The one major factor preventing the widespread acceptance of TEP is the requirement for general anesthesia (GA). In contrast, open hernia is performed using local or regional anesthesia, thereby having the advantage of quicker recovery, decreased postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), fewer hemodyanamic changes, reduced metabolic responses to surgical stress, and better muscle relaxation. This study attempted to evaluate whether laparoscopic TEP can be performed under less invasive anesthesia, such as regional anesthesia, and to determine its feasibility and limitations Methods All total of 22 male patients were studied between January 2002 and March 2003 in a tertiary care referral hospital. Epidural anesthesia with 2% lignocaine with adrenaline (Adr) was given via a lumbar epidural catheter, achieving a sensory level of T6. The standard technique for TEP was followed, using three midline infraumbilical ports. Results Twenty-two patients (20 unilateral, 2 bilateral) underwent operation. The mean operating time was 67.8 ± 18 (range, 40–110) min. All 22 cases were started with epidural anesthesia, 7 of which (31.9%) were converted to GA; the other 15 (68.1%) were completed under epidural anesthesia. All cases were successfully completed laparoscopically, and there were no conversions. There were no intraoperative complications. There was no significant difference between the cases conducted under epidural anesthesia (67.6 ± 23 min) and those converted to GA (69.3 ± 7.3 min). There was no statistically significant difference between the conversion rates of smaller versus larger hernias in this study (p value 0.22). A significant association of success of the procedure was seen with a sensory level of T6 and above (2/15 conversions to GA; i.e., 13.3%) and cases with a sensory level below T6 (5/7 converted; i.e., 71.4%) and adequate epidural catheter length (p = 0.015). Prevention and management of pneumoperitoneum and subsequent shoulder-tip pain was the key to preventing conversions (6 of 9 converted to GA; i.e., 67%; p = 0.006). There were no significant postoperative complications, and no recurrences were noted during a mean follow-up period of 29 months (range, 20–36 months). Conclusions From the present study it is clear that TEP is possible under epidural anesthesia provided a minimal sensory level of T6 is achieved. To achieve that level, an appropriate higher site for catheter insertion and/or adequate intraepidural catheter length needs specific attention. Pneumoperitoneum, shoulder-tip pain, intraoperative straining, and inadequate preperitoneal space are factors whose interplay leads to conversion to GA. The size of the hernia is not related to pneumoperitoneum or conversion to GA.     

Comparison of spinal anesthesia with general anesthesia on morphine requirement after abdominal hysterectomy

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare morphine consumption with patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) between spinal anesthesia (SA) (bupivacaine, morphine and fentanyl) and general anesthesia (GA) (sufentanil) after an abdominal hysterectomy.
Methods: Forty women were randomly assigned to receive SA with bupivacaine 15 mg, 0.15 mg of intrathecal morphine and 15 μg of fentanyl or GA with sufentanil, both combined with PCA. The primary outcome was morphine consumption with the PCA device. The secondary outcomes were post-operative pain at rest and under stress on a visual analog scale, nausea, pruritus and respiratory depression on a standardized scale. Outcome measures were recorded at 6, 12, 18, 24 and 48 h post-anesthesia. The duration of post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and hospital stay were recorded.
Results: Patients in the SA group consumed at least two times less morphine at each time interval than the GA group: at 48 h, they used 19 ± 17 vs. 81 ± 31 mg ( P <0.0001). Post-operative pain at rest was lower in the SA group until the 18th hour and under stress until the 48th. There was more sedation in the GA group until the 18th hour. Little difference was observed in the incidence of pruritus. Nausea was more intense at the 6th hour in the GA group. There was no difference in the respiratory rate. The duration of PACU stay was shorter for the SA group (52 ± 9 vs. 73 ± 11 min, P <0.0001) as was the duration of hospital stay (2.2 ± 0.4 vs. 3.3 ± 0.7 days, P =0.01).
Conclusions: It is concluded that intrathecal morphine 0.15 mg with 15 μg of fentanyl decreases post-operative pain and morphine consumption by PCA without increasing adverse reactions for women undergoing an abdominal hysterectomy.     

老年初发非嵌顿性腹股沟疝开放性手术患者的麻醉

目的研究老年原发非嵌顿性腹股沟疝开放性手术患者的最佳麻醉方式及临床意义。 方法选取2014年11月至2016年11月,湛江市第二人民医院接受手术治疗的老年原发非嵌顿性腹股沟疝患者662例,其中男性604例,女性58例,平均年龄（68.8±5.4）岁。将全部患者随机分为3组并各自采用全身麻醉（全麻组221例）、椎管内麻醉（椎管内组221例）以及局部麻醉（局麻组220例）。对比3组患者的手术时间、手术加麻醉时间和术中出血量;对比3组患者术后并发症发生情况及并发症率;对比3组患者的术后住院时间以及住院总费用。 结果全麻组、椎管内组、局麻组手术时间分别为（95.32±32.07）、（90.24±28.17）、（89.41±27.52）min,差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）;手术加麻醉时间上局麻组（101.29±32.71）min则显著低于椎管内组的（129.62±39.75）min和全麻组的（149.67±51.38）min,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;局麻组的尿潴留发病率3.63%（8/220）显著低于椎管内组13.12%（29/221）和全麻组23.53%（52/221）,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;局麻组在术后住院时间及住院总费用（4.35±2.41）d、（6 259.76± 773.59）元显著低于椎管内组（6.53±3.25）d、（7 653.26±861.27）元和全麻组（6.82±2.94）d、（9 135.32±896.81）元,差异均有统计学意义（P均<0.05）。 结论局部麻醉是老年原发非嵌顿性腹股沟疝开放性手术患者最佳的麻醉方式。     

Treatment of inguinal hernia in the adult: results of tension-free procedures]

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to verify, by a prospective multicenter evaluation, if the results attributed to tension-free procedures were obtained in current practice. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1994 to 1997, 398 patients were operated on by three surgical teams. There were 357 men and 4 women (mean age: 58.5 years, range: 25-90). The hernia was bilateral in 37 patients and 435 hernias were treated by Perfix plug (n = 322), Gilbert plug (n = 76) or by Lichtenstein procedure (n = 37), according to the choice of the surgeon. In tension-free procedures, sutures under tension were replaced by a mesh or a plug without any approximation of the margins of the hernial orifice. The procedure was performed under local (n = 316), epidural (n = 94), or general (n = 25) anesthesia. RESULTS: There were no postoperative deaths. There were 19 postoperative benign complications (4.4%). The duration of analgesics consumption, postoperative hospital stay, cessation of normal activities and work (mean [SD] [range]) were 3.3 days ([3.9] [0-60]), 1.3 day ([1.1] [0-16]), 4.5 days ([3.1] [0-34]) and 15.4 days ([10.2] [0-60]) respectively. With a mean follow-up of 36 months ([14] [6-67]), 423 hernias (97.2%) were assessed. Two (0.5%) recurrences occurred. Twenty three patients had secondarily troubles (5.8%): 21 patients complained of chronic pain, one had testis atrophy and one plug had to be removed. CONCLUSION: These results confirm that tension-free procedures are minimally invasive, induce few benign postoperative complications and low pain, allow early return to normal activity, and are followed by few recurrences.     

The combination of general anesthesia and interscalene block in shoulder surgery]

Surgery on the shoulder often causes severe pain and, therefore, requires high doses of opiates. As postoperative pain is frequently treated inadequately, it is desirable to seek alternatives for providing effective analgesia. In a prospective study we examined the efficacy of balanced anesthesia consisting of general anesthesia combined with interscalene brachial plexus blockade for intra- and postoperative analgesia for operations on the shoulder. METHODS. Using the technique described by Winnie, interscalene block (ISB) was performed in 100 awake patients. After location of the brachial plexus by means of a peripheral nerve stimulator, we injected 40 ml bupivacaine 0.375%, after which general anesthesia (GA) was induced. At three predetermined points in time (recovery room, 8 h, and 24 h after the end of surgery), pain was evaluated by a visual analogue scale ranging from 0 to 10 and the extent of sensory blockade was tested by the pinprick method. The results of the pain scores and individual demands for analgesics were compared with a group of 22 patients who received only GA. Both groups were comparable in age, sex, and type of surgical procedure. RESULTS. We noted technical failure of the ISB in 8% of our patients. Side effects such as Horner's syndrome (18%), phrenic nerve paralysis (10%), and recurrent laryngeal nerve block (1%) were only temporarily observed during the action of the local anesthetics. During the surgical procedure, the group with ISB received a mean dose of 0.13 +/- 0.07 mg fentanyl versus 0.29 +/- 0.08 mg in the GA group (P less than 0.01) with equipotent doses of volatile anesthetics (1.0 to 1.5 MAC enflurane). Postoperative pain occurred for the first time in 39% of the patients given ISB later than 12 h after the end of surgery (average 8.7 +/- 5.9 h). In contrast, 95% of the patients with GA complained of pain in the recovery room. Pain measurement by the analogue scale clearly demonstrated the advantages of balanced anesthesia directly and 8 h after the operation (P less than 0.01). Even 24 h after the end of the surgical procedure the patients had better pain relief (P less than 0.05) in spite of the decreasing effect of the ISB. These significant differences led to the following results for postoperative treatment: 35% of the patients with ISB did not require additional analgesics during the first 24-h period after surgery, whereas 95% of those with GA requested analgesia. Only 32% of the ISB patients required opioids versus 86% with GA. The average duration of stay in the recovery room was reduced by 25% in the group with ISB (86 vs 134 min). In a final assessment, 84% of the patients were satisfied with the balanced anesthesia and only 5% were disappointed with the method. CONCLUSION. The combination of ISB and GA allows a reduction in intraoperative doses of opiates and facilitates postoperative pain management. Because of the low incidence of side effects, the lack of complications, and the high degree of patient acceptance, we recommend this type of balanced anesthesia for patients undergoing shoulder surgery.