Published in Anesth Analg. 2014 Nov 25 Authors: Visoiu M et al BACKGROUND: Single-injection paravertebral nerve blocks (PVBs) provide effective postoperative analgesia after adult laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). We sought to compare PVBs with local anesthetic injections at laparoscopic port sites in a pediatric population. METHODS: Eighty-three patients (8-17 years old) scheduled for LC were randomized prospectively […]
Read MorePublished in Anesth Analg. 2015 Jan;120(1):151-6 Authors: Suresh S et al BACKGROUND: The caudal block is the most commonly performed regional anesthesia technique in pediatric patients undergoing surgical procedures, but safety concerns raised by previous reports remain to be addressed. Our main objective in current investigation was to estimate the overall and specific incidence of complications […]
Read MoreThe US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has issued a nationwide alert about the dangers of the narcotic fentanyl and fentanyl analogues/compounds. According to the DEA, the drug, which is often used in anesthesia to prevent pain after surgery or other procedures, is commonly laced in heroin, causing significant problems across the country, particularly because heroin […]
Read MorePublished in Anesth Analg. 2014 Nov;119(5):1084-92 Authors: Staehr-Rye AK et al BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed during low intraabdominal pressure (<12 mm Hg) is associated with significantly less postoperative pain than standard pressure (≥12 mm Hg). The impact on surgical space conditions and safety of operating at lower pressures has not been adequately described, but deep neuromuscular […]
Read MorePublished in Paediatr Anaesth. 2014 Nov;24(11):1158-63 Authors: Bharti N et al OBJECTIVES: This randomized double-blind study was conducted to evaluate the analgesic efficacy and safety of addition of three different doses of dexmedetomidine in caudal ropivacaine compared with plain ropivacaine for postoperative analgesia in pediatric day care patients. METHODS: Eighty children of American Society of Anesthesiologists […]
Read MoreThe presence of defects in the immune system in people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the major reason why sufferers have ongoing issues with pain, and one reason why some painkillers do not provide satisfactory relief to these patients, according to a recent study by researchers at the University of Adelaide, in Australia. IBS […]
Read MorePublished in CardioVasc Thoracic Surgery Volume 20, Issue 3 Pp. 296-299 Authors: Teruya Komatsua et al OBJECTIVES Recently, paravertebral block (PVB) has been reported to be an effective analgesic modality for post-thoracotomy pain, but there is no consensus on how thoracic PVB can be more effective. Our hypothesis that intact pleura has a significant impact on the analgesic […]
Read MoreThe American Geriatrics Society (AGS) has released a new practice guideline for preventing and treating postoperative delirium in patients aged 65 years or older. The guideline was published onlineNovember 4 on the AGS website. An additional best practices document containing almost all guideline recommendations plus additional clinical recommendations was published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. The […]
Read MoreIn patients undergoing cesarean delivery who are receiving a combined spinal epidural (CSE), a study has found that delivering epidural saline using a low-pressure gravity technique leads to fewer complications than relying solely on an epidural catheter. The investigators Shaul Cohen, MD, Antonio Chiricolo, MD, and their colleagues from the Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, […]
Read MoreThe US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has declined approval for a drug-device product combining low-dose sumatriptan powder delivered intranasally using a novel delivery technology for the treatment of migraine (AVP-825, Avanir Pharmaceuticals Inc), the company reports. “In the Complete Response letter (CRL), and consistent with the preliminary feedback announced on November 7, 2014, the […]
Read More