Can ropivacaine and levobupivacaine be used as test doses during regional anesthesia? (49/262)

BACKGROUND: Lower systemic toxicity reported with ropivacaine and levobupivacaine may produce less reliable recognition of inadvertent intravenous injection during regional anesthesia. This study was undertaken to determine whether ropivacaine and levobupivacaine are suitable for use as intravenous test doses by evaluating central nervous system (CNS) symptoms after intravenous bolus injection. METHODS: Institutional approval and informed consent were granted for the study. One hundred twenty patients scheduled to undergo elective surgery were randomly assigned to receive 5 ml intravenous saline, 100 mg lidocaine, 25 mg ropivacaine, or 25 mg levobupivacaine before anesthesia. Patients reported CNS symptoms after injection and were monitored for hemodynamic change. RESULTS: Intravenous ropivacaine or levobupivacaine produced CNS symptoms in only 52% and 57% of patients, respectively, compared with 87% of patients after lidocaine (P < 0.02). Despite preparatory instruction, many patients receiving ropivacaine or levobupivacaine did not spontaneously volunteer symptoms because they were subtle and admitted symptoms only after in-depth questioning by the investigator. CONCLUSIONS: Plain ropivacaine and levobupivacaine (25 mg) solutions are unsuitable for use as intravenous test doses during regional anesthesia because CNS symptoms are insufficient. When using ropivacaine or levobupivacaine for regional anesthesia, for test dose purposes, the authors recommend the addition of epinephrine to the local anesthetic solution or the use of a separate agent with more predictable CNS characteristics.  (+info)

Molecular genetic testing for malignant hyperthermia susceptibility. (50/262)

BACKGROUND: For more than 30 yr, the in vitro contracture test (IVCT) was the only appropriate diagnostic tool for malignant hyperthermia (MH). After the introduction of molecular genetics into MH research, guidelines for molecular genetic diagnosis of MH susceptibility were published. The aim of this study was to establish applicability of the guidelines, sensitivity, and specificity of genetic testing in MH and advantages for studied patients. METHODS: The IVCT was performed following the guidelines of the European MH Group. Mutation analyses were performed by amplification of genomic DNA by polymerase chain reaction and restriction enzyme digestion. RESULTS: Two hundred eight individuals underwent MH testing between January 2001 and April 2003. In 32 of 67 initially genetic-tested patients, the familial mutation was identified, and they were diagnosed as MH susceptible. The IVCT followed negative genetic test results in 20 patients, and all but one had negative IVCT results. Three patients were scheduled to undergo elective surgery, and IVCT and genetic testing were performed simultaneously. All three had positive IVCT results and were carriers of their familial mutation. CONCLUSIONS: In families with known MH mutations, there is a 50% chance of reliably confirming MH susceptibility by noninvasive testing. The authors found the negative predictive value of genetic testing to be 0.95 (95% confidence interval, 0.75-0.99), but for patient safety, they still recommend following the guidelines for genetic testing in MH and therefore performing an IVCT in case of negative genetic results.  (+info)

Choice of anesthesia and risk of reoperation for recurrence in groin hernia repair. (51/262)

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relative risk of reoperation for recurrence using 3 anesthetic alternatives, general anesthesia (GA), regional (spinal-, epidural-) anesthesia (RA), and local anesthesia (LA), and to study time trends for various anesthetic and operative methods, as well as other risk factors regarding reoperation for recurrence. BACKGROUND: The method of anesthesia used for hernia repair is generally assumed not to affect the long-term outcome. The few studies on the topic have rendered conflicting results. METHODS: Data from the Swedish Hernia Register was used. Relative risk was first estimated using univariate analysis for assumed risk variables and then selecting variables with the highest or lowest univariate risk for multivariate analysis. RESULTS: From 1992 through 2001, 59,823 hernia repairs were recorded. Despite the fact that univariate analysis showed a somewhat lower risk for reoperation in the LA group, the multivariate analysis showed that LA was associated with a significantly increased risk for reoperation in primary but not in recurrent hernia repair. The Lichtenstein technique carried a significantly lower reoperation risk than any other method of operation. CONCLUSIONS: LA was associated with a higher risk of reoperation for recurrence after primary hernia repair. The use of mesh techniques has increased considerably, and among these the Lichtenstein repair was associated with a significantly lower risk for reoperation than any other repair.  (+info)

Injuries associated with regional anesthesia in the 1980s and 1990s: a closed claims analysis. (52/262)

BACKGROUND: The authors used the American Society of Anesthesiologists Closed Claims Project database to identify specific patterns of injury and legal liability associated with regional anesthesia. Because obstetrics represents a unique subset of patients, claims with neuraxial blockade were divided into obstetric and nonobstetric groups for comparison. METHODS: The American Society of Anesthesiologists Closed Claims Project is a structured evaluation of adverse anesthetic outcomes collected from closed anesthesia malpractice insurance claims of professional liability companies. An in-depth analysis of 1980-1999 regional anesthesia claims was performed with a subset comparison between obstetric and nonobstetric neuraxial anesthesia claims. RESULTS: Of the total 1,005 regional anesthesia claims, neuraxial blockade was used in 368 obstetric claims and 453 of 637 nonobstetric claims (71%). Damaging events in 51% of obstetric and 41% of nonobstetric neuraxial anesthesia claims were block related. Obstetrics had a higher proportion of neuraxial anesthesia claims with temporary and low-severity injuries (71%) compared with the nonobstetric group (38%; P +info)

Ultrasound guidance in regional anaesthesia. (53/262)

The technology and clinical understanding of anatomical sonography has evolved greatly over the past decade. In the Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine at the Medical University of Vienna, ultrasonography has become a routine technique for regional anaesthetic nerve block. Recent studies have shown that direct visualization of the distribution of local anaesthetics with high-frequency probes can improve the quality and avoid the complications of upper/lower extremity nerve blocks and neuroaxial techniques. Ultrasound guidance enables the anaesthetist to secure an accurate needle position and to monitor the distribution of the local anaesthetic in real time. The advantages over conventional guidance techniques, such as nerve stimulation and loss-of-resistance procedures, are significant. This review introduces the reader to the theory and practice of ultrasound-guided anaesthetic techniques in adults and children. Considering their enormous potential, these techniques should have a role in the future training of anaesthetists.  (+info)

Early but no long-term benefit of regional compared with general anesthesia for ambulatory hand surgery. (54/262)

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine whether either regional anesthesia (RA) or general anesthesia (GA) provided the best analgesia with the fewest adverse effects up to 2 weeks after ambulatory hand surgery. METHODS: Patients undergoing ambulatory hand surgery were randomly assigned to RA (axillary brachial plexus block; n = 50) or GA (n = 50). Before surgery, all patients rated their hand pain (visual analog scale) and pain-related disability (Pain-Disability Index). After surgery, eligibility for bypassing the postanesthesia care unit ("fast track") was determined, and pain, adverse effects, and home-readiness scores were measured. On postoperative days 1, 7, and 14, patients documented their pain, opioid consumption, adverse effects, Pain-Disability Index, and satisfaction. RESULTS: More RA patients were fast-track eligible (P < 0.001), whereas duration of stay in the postanesthesia care unit was shorter in the RA group (P < 0.001). Time to first analgesic request was longer in the RA group (P < 0.001), and opioid consumption was reduced before discharge (P < 0.001). In the RA group, the pain ratings measured at 30, 60, 90, and 120 min after surgery were lower (P < 0.001), and patients spent less time in the hospital after surgery (P < 0.001). More GA patients experienced nausea/vomiting during recovery in the hospital (P < 0.05). However, on postoperative days 1, 7, and 14, there were no differences in pain, opioid consumption, adverse effects, Pain-Disability Index, or satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Despite significant reduction in pain before discharge from the hospital after ambulatory hand surgery, single-shot axillary brachial plexus block does not reduce pain at home on postoperative day 1 or up to 14 days after surgery when compared with GA. However, RA does provide other significant early benefits, including reduction in nausea and faster discharge from the hospital.  (+info)

Incidence of cranial nerve injuries after carotid eversion endarterectomy with a transverse skin incision under regional anaesthesia. (55/262)

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this prospective study was to evaluate the incidence and distribution of cranial nerve injuries after carotid eversion endarterectomy (EEA) performed under regional anaesthesia using a transverse skin incision. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 165 patients and 180 carotid arteries. All patients had a standard pre-operative assessment performed by a neurologist and ENT specialist. All carotid endarterectomies were performed by the eversion technique under regional anaesthesia. RESULTS: Ten cranial nerve injuries were observed. Seven patients had injuries of the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve, two patients had lesions of the hypoglossal nerve, and one patient had an injury of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Eleven patients developed hoarseness without cranial nerve injury. Injuries of the marginal mandibular branch recovered after 3-8 months (mean 5.2 months). Both hypoglossal nerve injuries recovered after 4 months. The patient with the recurrent laryngeal palsy had no improvement after 19 months. Patients with hoarseness secondary to laryngeal haematoma recovered within 1 month. CONCLUSION: The incidence of cranial nerves injury after carotid EEA under regional anaesthesia is comparable to that reported for conventional carotid surgery. Postoperative hoarseness is most frequently due to laryngeal haematoma.  (+info)

Perioperative myocardial ischemia in patients undergoing elective hip arthroplasty during lumbar regional anesthesia. (56/262)

Perioperative myocardial ischemia predicts unfavorable outcomes and occurs in as many as 41% of patients with coronary artery disease or cardiac risk factors undergoing noncardiac surgery. To determine the prevalence of myocardial ischemia, we studied 52 consecutive unselected patients undergoing elective hip arthroplasty during lumbar regional anesthesia. Patients were continuously monitored for 6 days using a three-channel Holter monitor. Ninety-nine episodes of myocardial ischemia occurred in 16 patients (31%), six of whom were considered preoperatively to be at low risk for coronary artery disease. Forty-four percent of the ischemic episodes were preceded or accompanied by a heart rate greater than or equal to 100/min and 56% by a heart rate greater than or equal to 90 beats/min. Ninety-six percent of the ischemic episodes were clinically silent, and 82% were not related to patient care events. Thirteen episodes of myocardial ischemia occurred preoperatively, 1 intraoperatively, and 85 postoperatively. The incidence of postoperative ischemic episodes showed a circadian variation: 44% occurred between 6 AM and noon, 33% between noon and 6 PM, 17% between 6 PM and midnight, and 6% between midnight and 6 AM. Six adverse cardiac events occurred during hospitalization (three of the six among patients with perioperative ischemia) and an additional four events during a follow-up period of 12 months (all four events occurred among patients with perioperative ischemia). Patients with perioperative myocardial ischemia had a relative risk of 2.6 (95% confidence interval 1.3-5.2) to develop an adverse cardiac event postoperatively.  (+info)