Continuous Preperitoneal Infusion of Ropivacaine Provides Effective Analgesia and Accelerates Recovery after Colorectal Surgery: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study

Background: Blockade of parietal nociceptive afferents by the use of continuous wound infiltration with local anesthetics may be beneficial in a multimodal approach to postoperative pain management after major surgery. The role of continuous preperitoneal infusion of ropivacaine for pain relief and postoperative recovery after open colorectal resections was evaluated in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial.

Methods: After obtaining written informed consents, a multiholed wound catheter was placed by the surgeon in the preperitoneal space at the end of surgery in patients scheduled to undergo elective open colorectal resection by midline incision. They were thereafter randomly assigned to receive through the catheter either 0.2% ropivacaine (10-ml bolus followed by an infusion of 10 ml/h during 48 h) or the same protocol with 0.9% NaCl. In addition, all patients received patient-controlled intravenous morphine analgesia.

Results: Twenty-one patients were evaluated in each group. Compared with preperitoneal saline, ropivacaine infusion reduced morphine consumption during the first 72 h and improved pain relief at rest during 12 h and while coughing during 48 h. Sleep quality was also better during the first two postoperative nights. Time to recovery of bowel function (74 +/- 19 vs. 105 +/- 54 h; P = 0.02) and duration of hospital stay (115 +/- 25 vs. 147 +/- 53 h; P = 0.02) were significantly reduced in the ropivacaine group. Ropivacaine plasma concentrations remained below the level of toxicity. No side effects were observed.     

A comparison of two techniques for cervical plexus blockade: evaluation of efficacy and systemic toxicity

We compared two techniques of cervical plexus blockade (CPB) for carotid endarterectomy. Cervical plexus nerve block was performed with a combination of bupivacaine and lidocaine, with injections at the C2-C3, C3-C4, and C4-C5 transverse processes in 11 patients (classical CPB) or with a single injection after localization of the cervical plexus with a nerve stimulator in 12 patients (interscalene CPB). Pain scores were obtained during block placement and at predetermined phases of the operation. Arterial blood was sampled before and 3, 5, 8, 10, 15, 25, 40, and 60 min after CPB for measurement of bupivacaine and lidocaine concentrations. Interscalene CPB was less painful than classical CPB. The techniques appeared equally effective. Patients in both groups required equivalent supplementation with IV fentanyl and additional local infiltration with lidocaine during the most painful stages of surgery. The maximal concentration of bupivacaine was lower in interscalene CPB compared with classical CPB (1.0 microg/mL versus 1.5 microg/mL, P < 0.01). The time required to reach the maximal concentration of bupivacaine was 15 (10-40) min in interscalene CPB and 10 (5-17) min in classical CPB (P < 0.05). Lidocaine maximal concentration was similar in both groups, however the time required to reach the maximal concentration was longer (P < 0.05) in interscalene CPB (15 [10-60] min) than in classical CPB (10 [8-20] min). We conclude that the interscalene CPB is as effective as the classical CPB as a regional technique for carotid endarterectomy and may be associated with a lower systemic absorption of bupivacaine. IMPLICATIONS: Cervical plexus blockade for carotid endarterectomy can be effectively performed with a single injection after localization of the cervical plexus with a nerve stimulator. This technique is simple and was associated with less systemic absorption of local anesthetic than the multiple-injection technique.     

中药山豆根的形态组织学研究

对目前国内作山豆根用的9种不同植物来源的生药进行了形态组织学的比较研究,观察并描述了它们的生药性状和组织构造,并列出了生药的分种检索表。     

Preemptive intravenous morphine-6-glucuronide is ineffective for postoperative pain relief

BACKGROUND: Morphine-6-glucuronide (M-6-G), a major metabolite of morphine, is reported to be more potent than morphine when administered intrathecally; however, its efficiency remains under debate when administered intravenously. This study was designed to assess the analgesic efficiency of intravenous M-6-G for the treatment of acute postoperative pain. METHODS: After informed consent was obtained, 37 adults (American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I-II) who were scheduled for elective open knee surgery were enrolled in the study. General anesthesia was induced with thiopental, alfentanil, and vecuronium and was maintained with a mixture of nitrous oxide/isoflurane and bolus doses of alfentanil. At skin closure, patients were randomized into three groups: (1) morphine group (n = 13), which received morphine 0.15 mg/kg; (2) M-6-G group (n = 12), which received M-6-G 0.1 mg/kg; and (3) placebo group (n = 12), which received saline. At the time of extubation, plasma concentration of morphine and M-6-G was measured. Postoperative analgesic efficiency was assessed by the cumulative dose of morphine delivered by patient-controlled analgesia. Opioid-related side effects were also evaluated. RESULTS: No difference was noted in patient characteristics and opioid-related side effects. Morphine requirements (mean +/- SD) during the first 24 h in the M-6-G group (41+/-9 mg) and the placebo group (49+/-8 mg) were significantly greater (P<0.05) compared with the morphine group (29+/-8 mg). CONCLUSION: A single intravenous bolus dose of M-6-G was found to be ineffective in the treatment of acute postoperative pain. This might be related to the low permeability of the blood-brain barrier for M-6-G.     

Comparative ventricular electrophysiologic effect of racemic bupivacaine, levobupivacaine, and ropivacaine on the isolated rabbit heart

BACKGROUND: Numerous local anesthetics have an asymmetric tetrahedron carbon, which confers stereoselective differences between the isomers. The authors attempted to quantify the depressant effect of racemic bupivacaine, levobupivacaine, and ropivacaine on myocardial ventricular conduction and on myocardial contractility. METHODS: The authors studied the pharmacokinetics (outflow concentration) and pharmacodynamics (QRS widening) of the three drugs infused in an isolated rabbit heart preparation. All data were fitted simultaneously with use of mixed-effect modeling, thus allowing precise statistical comparison between the three drug parameters. The rate dependence of QRS widening was fitted separately. RESULTS: Racemic bupivacaine, levobupivacaine, and ropivacaine induced a calculated maximum increase in QRS duration in the ratio 1:0.4:0.3. Css50, the dose which caused half the maximum increase in QRS duration at steady state, was similar for all three drugs (22 micrometer free concentration). A rate dependence of QRS widening was observed, which was in the ratio 1:0.5:0.25 for racemic bupivacaine, levobupivacaine, and ropivacaine, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In the isolated rabbit heart, racemic bupivacaine, levobupivacaine, and ropivacaine induce an increase in QRS duration in the respective ratio of 1:0.4:0.3, which was rate dependent in approximately the same ratio.     

Hello,can you hear me? Orthopaedic clinic telephone consultations in the COVID-19 era- a patient and clinician perspective

BACKGROUNDThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in seismic changes in healthcare delivery. As a result of this, hospital footfall required to be reduced due to increased risk of transmission of infection. To ensure patients can safely access healthcare, we introduced orthopaedic clinic telephone consultations in our busy district general hospital.AIMTo investigate patients’ and clinicians’ perspective of telephone consultations during COVID-19, and whether this method of consultation could be a viable option in the post- pandemic future. METHODSThis is a single centre, prospective study conducted in a busy National Health Service district general hospital. In May 2020, 100 non- consecutive adult patients were contacted by independent investigators within 48 h of their orthopaedic clinic telephone consultation to complete a telephone satisfaction questionnaire. The questions assessed satisfaction regarding various aspects of the consultation including overall satisfaction and willingness to use this approach long term. Satisfaction and perspective of 25 clinicians conducting these telephone consultations was also assessed via an online survey tool.RESULTS93% of patients were overall satisfied with telephone consultations and 79% were willing to continue this method of consultation post- pandemic. Patients found telephone consultations to reduce personal cost and inconvenience associated with attending a hospital appointment. 72% of clinicians reported overall satisfaction with this service and 80% agreed that telephone consultations should be used in the future. The majority found it less laborious in time and administration in comparison to face to face consultations. Patients and clinicians expressed their desire for video consultations as a method of further improving their experience with remote consultations.CONCLUSIONOur study has shown that telephone consultations are a safe and rapid method of adaptation to the COVID-19 pandemic, achieving the aim of reducing hospital footfall. This method of consultation has resulted in immense clinician and patient satisfaction. Our findings suggest that this tool has benefits in post pandemic healthcare delivery. It has also highlighted that telephone consultations can act as a steppingstone to the introduction of the more complex platform of video consulting.     

软骨修复组织蛋白多糖代谢与一氧化氮合酶抑制剂的影响

目的:应用一氧化氮合酶抑制剂可改善骨性关节炎和风湿性关节炎软骨的代谢,作者前期的实验也证明一氧化氮合酶抑制剂能提高软骨修复组织的质量。实验进一步观察一氧化氮合酶抑制剂对软骨修复组织蛋白多糖代谢的影响。方法:实验于1999-06/2002-02在南方医科大学完成。①实验分组:取雄性新西兰兔24只,8月龄,体质量(2.5±0.2)kg。随机抽签法分为对照组、骨形态发生蛋白组和S-甲基异硫脲组,每组8只。②实验方法:将大白兔双侧股骨髁间关节面造成全层软骨缺损,对照组:软骨缺损不充填任何物质;骨形态发生蛋白组:缺损用骨形态发生蛋白纤维蛋白凝胶复合物充填;S-甲基异硫脲组:缺损应用胶原复合骨形态发生蛋白充填,术后按5mg/(kg·12h)皮下注射S-甲基异硫脲。术后1年麻醉后处死动物。③实验评估:应用组织切片番红O-快绿染色和图像分析技术,按照染色百分率、平均灰度(平均染色程度)和染色厚度(软骨厚度)指标来检测糖胺聚糖含量;应用Na235SO4掺入法检测软骨修复组织蛋白多糖合成。结果:纳入新西兰兔24只,均进入结果分析。①术后1年,对照组几乎无红色染色区域;骨形态发生蛋白组可见到少量的不均匀红色区域;S-甲基异硫脲组可见到较多均匀一致的红色染色区域。②S-甲基异硫脲组软骨修复组织番红O染色百分率为89.28%,明显高于骨形态发生蛋白组36.54%和对照组13.4%,S-甲基异硫脲组修复组织番红O-快绿染色平均灰度值134.5,分别为骨形态发生蛋白组平均灰度值56.8的2.5倍,为对照组26.4的7倍。软骨平均厚度S-甲基异硫脲组1.75cm分别为骨形态发生蛋白组0.76cm和对照组0.25cm的2倍和6倍。③Na235SO4掺入法结果显示,S-甲基异硫脲组[35S]摄入量明显高于骨形态发生蛋白组和对照组(P<0.01)。结论:诱导型一氧化氮合酶抑制剂S-甲基异硫脲的应用能明显增加软骨修复组织糖胺聚糖含量和蛋白多糖合成,对于软骨修复质量的提高有积极意义。     

Isoflurane alters angiotensin II-induced Ca2+ mobilization in aortic smooth muscle cells from hypertensive rats: implication of cytoskeleton

BACKGROUND: Angiotensin II (AngII) is a potent vasoconstrictor involved in the short-term control of arterial blood pressure. Isoflurane was reported to decrease vascular tone through an alteration of vascular smooth muscle cell vasomotor response to several agonists, but its effect on AngII signaling is not known. On the other hand, vascular response to AngII is altered in hypertension. In this study, the authors tested the hypothesis that (1) isoflurane alters AngII-induced intracellular Ca mobilization in aortic vascular smooth muscle cell from Wistar Kyoto and spontaneously hypertensive rats, and (2) this effect could be associated with an alteration of the organization of microtubular network, reported to be involved in AngII signaling. METHODS: The effect of 0.5-3% isoflurane was studied (1) on AngII (10 m)-induced intracellular Ca mobilization, intracellular Ca release from internal stores, and Ca influx in Fura-2 loaded cultured aortic vascular smooth muscle cell isolated from 6-week-old Wistar Kyoto and spontaneously hypertensive rats, using fluorescent imaging microscopy; and (2) on the organization of cytoskeletal elements, using immunofluorescence labeling. RESULTS: In both stains, isoflurane decreased in a concentration-dependent manner AngII-induced intracellular Ca mobilization, Ca release from internal stores, and Ca influx through nifedipine-insensitive Ca channels. This effect occurred at a lower concentrations of isoflurane in Wistar Kyoto rats than in spontaneously hypertensive rats. In both strains, the effect of isoflurane on AngII- Ca mobilization was abolished by impairment with nocodazole, vinblastine, or paclitaxel of microtubules polymerization. Isoflurane directly altered tubular network organization in a concentration-dependent and reversible manner. CONCLUSIONS: Isoflurane decreased AngII-induced Ca mobilization at clinically relevant concentrations, suggesting that vascular response to AngII could be altered during isoflurane anesthesia. The hypertensive strain was found less sensitive than the normotensive one. In both strains, the isoflurane effect was associated with a microtubular network interaction.