Laurent Bollag

Effect of Transversus Abdominis Plane Block With and Without Clonidine on Post–cesarean Delivery Wound Hyperalgesia and Pain

Background and Objectives The transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is an established technique to manage post–cesarean delivery pain. Transversus abdominis plane blocks with a local anesthetic only offer no analgesic benefits compared with intrathecal morphine. Adjuvants to extend TAP block duration and possibly reduce wound hyperalgesia, known to be a risk factor for chronic pain, have not been studied. We hypothesized that a TAP block with clonidine will affect postsurgical wound hyperalgesia and improve pain outcomes. Methods Ninety women were randomly assigned to receive 1 of 3 TAP blocks after cesarean delivery: saline (placebo), bupivacaine (BupTAP), or bupivacaine + clonidine (CloTAP). The primary outcome was wound hyperalgesia index at 48 hours. Secondary outcomes included pain scores, analgesic consumption, and pain descriptors up to 12 months. Results Wound hyperalgesia index at 48 hours (median [25th–75th percentiles]) was 1.07 (0.48–3.26) in the placebo group, 1.27 (0.59–2.95) in the BupTAP group, and 0.74 (0.09–2.25) in the CloTAP group (P = 0.48). Morphine request in the postanesthesia care unit was significantly higher in the placebo group compared with the other TAP groups (P = 0.01). Postoperative pain scores and requests for breakthrough medication at 48 hours (30% in the placebo group, 24% in the BupTAP group, and 12% in the CloTAP group, P = 0.25) or chronic pain descriptors reported up to 12 months did not differ significantly among groups. Conclusions Adding clonidine to a TAP block with bupivacaine did not affect wound hyperalgesia index and it did not improve short-term or long-term pain scores in women undergoing elective cesarean delivery. Further studies are warranted to determine the benefits of antihyperalgesic adjuvants in TAP solutions for specific individuals at risk for chronic pain.

Transversus abdominis plane catheters for post-cesarean delivery analgesia: a series of five cases.

We present five cases of women who received ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane catheters for post-cesarean delivery analgesia. Pain relief was maintained with repeated boluses of local anesthetic combined with oral acetaminophen and ibuprofen unless contraindicated. We conclude that repeated dosing through transversus abdominis plane catheters may be offered to women as an alternative or adjuvant to intrathecal morphine. Larger studies to evaluate the safety and further refinements of this novel procedure are warranted.

Ultrasound-guided Lumbar Transforaminal Injections: Feasibility and Validation Study

Study Design. Preclinical feasibility study. Objective. Evaluation and validation of ultrasound-guided lumbar transforaminal injections. Summary of Background Data. Lumbar transforaminal injections are routinely implemented in the interventional management of spinal radicular pain. Typically, these injections are administered under fluoroscopy or computed tomography. Although radiological guidance provides anatomical precision and accuracy, it is associated with radiation exposure and cannot be performed during outpatient visits or at bedside. Ultrasound-guided techniques have been previously described; however, the methodological generalizability remained unknown and validation against routine fluoroscopy has never been conducted on multiple spinal levels. Methods. We addressed the procedural accuracy of ultrasound-guided lumbar transforaminal injections and proposed anatomically sound approach. Fluoroscopic validation was performed. Results. Of the 50 planned injections, 46 procedures were performed. L5/S1 foraminal access was impossible in 4 cases (8%). Fluoroscopy confirmed the correct foraminal placement in all 46 injections (100%). The contrast-spread pattern was intraforaminal in 42 cases (91.3%) and extraforaminal (nerve root) in 4 cases (8.7%). When intraforaminal pattern was detected on anteroposterior image, lateral fluoroscopy demonstrated ventral epidural flow in all occasions. In 3 cases, intravascular injection was detected (6.5%). Conclusion. Ultrasound-guided lumbar transforaminal injections are accurate and feasible in the preclinical setting.

Mechanisms of regional anaesthesia protection against hyperalgesia and pain chronicization.

Purpose of review The aim of the present review is to describe how regional anaesthesia might oppose neuronal changes that surgery and opioids cause in the central nervous system to block both pain sensitization and chronicization following surgery. This might help anaesthesiologists to better understand the impact of their practice on the development of postoperative chronic pain. Recent findings Even though there are more evidences from animals and clinical trials showing that regional anaesthesia might impact the acute pain/hyperalgesia and chronic postsurgical pain, the controversy on how and when to use regional anesthesia to avoid chronic pain persists. Animal studies brought only a very partial answer on what to do in our daily clinical practice. Clinical studies were performed in different types of surgery with various protocols so that a strong conclusion on whether or not using regional anesthesia might benefit the patient to decrease the risk of postoperative chronic pain remains unclear. Studies performed with neuraxial anaesthesia seem to bring better evidences than those with nerve blocks. Future studies will have to specifically evaluate acute hyperalgesia and postoperative chronic pain and not only the classical pain scores and analgesic consumption to bring us the answer we all need. Summary Regional anaesthesia is able to reduce postoperative acute hyperalgesia and long-term chronic pain by decreasing pain sensitization induced by the surgery itself, and intraoperative use and opioid-induced hyperalgesia. Nevertheless, clinical studies on neuraxial anaesthesia and nerve blocks did not bring so far a strong conclusion to this question, and further better designed studies are necessary.

Preoperative scar hyperalgesia is associated with post-operative pain in women undergoing a repeat Caesarean delivery.

Over 1.4 million Caesarean deliveries are performed annually in the United States, out of which 30% are elective repeat procedures. Post‐operative hyperalgesia is associated with an increased risk for persistent post‐surgical pain; however, there are no data on whether residual scar hyperalgesia (SHA) from a previous Caesarean delivery (CD) persists until the next delivery. We hypothesized that residual SHA may be present in a substantial proportion of women and is associated with increased post‐operative pain.

Hypoglossal Nerve Palsy After Airway Management for General Anesthesia: An Analysis of 69 Patients

Isolated hypoglossal nerve palsy (HNP), or neurapraxia, a rare postoperative complication after airway management, causes ipsilateral tongue deviation, dysarthria, and dysphagia. We reviewed the pathophysiological causes of hypoglossal nerve injury and discuss the associated clinical and procedural characteristics of affected patients. Furthermore, we identified procedural factors potentially affecting HNP recovery duration and propose several measures that may reduce the risk of HNP. While HNP can occur after a variety of surgeries, most cases in the literature were reported after orthopedic and otolaryngology operations, typically in males. The diagnosis is frequently missed by the anesthesia care team in the recovery room due to the delayed symptomatic onset and often requires neurology and otolaryngology evaluations to exclude serious etiologies. Signs and symptoms are self-limited, with resolution occurring within 2 months in 50% of patients, and 80% resolving within 4 months. Currently, there are no specific preventive or therapeutic recommendations. We found 69 cases of HNP after procedural airway management reported in the literature from 1926 to 2013.

Magnetic positioning system and ultrasound guidance for lumbar zygapophysial radiofrequency neurotomy: a cadaver study.

Background and Objectives Chronic low back pain related to degenerative spondylosis is commonly managed by the radiofrequency ablation of sensory nerves. Fluoroscopic guidance has been considered mandatory to ensure placement of the active tip of the cannula parallel to the nerve to provide adequate neurolysis. Conversely, analgesic (or diagnostic) blockade is usually accomplished by placing the needle perpendicular to the nerve using either fluoroscopy or ultrasound (US) guidance. The recently introduced disposable equipment of internally cooled radiofrequency allows the denervation procedure to be performed similarly to the routine diagnostic block. Consequently, US may now potentially be used for image-guided radiofrequency neurotomy. We sought to compare the accuracy using a novel US-based technique with the traditional fluoroscopy-guided placement. Methods The proof of concept study was performed using a magnetic positioning US-guided system. The precision of needle placements was compared with the standard fluoroscopic guidance. The primary outcome of this study was defined as the procedural accuracy. Procedural and radiation exposure time was also recorded. In addition, projected operational expenses were calculated. Results Ultrasound-guided procedural accuracy reached 97%. Both the imaging and procedure times were similar between the 2 forms of imaging guidance. Of significant importance, the US-guided approach (no radiation exposure) was quantitatively advantageous over fluoroscopy-guidance, which required an average of 170 seconds of radiation per procedure. Thus, the US method seems to be cost effective. Conclusions A magnetic positioning system allows accurate and quick US-guided placement of radiofrequency cannula to the desired anatomical targets, sparing patients and personnel from exposure to ionized radiation.

Osteogenesis imperfecta: cesarean deliveries in identical twins

Osteogenesis imperfecta is a congenital disorder resulting in multiple fractures and extremely short stature, usually necessitating cesarean delivery. Identical twins with severe osteogenesis imperfecta each of whom underwent a cesarean delivery with different anesthetic modalities are presented. A review of the literature and anesthetic options for cesarean delivery and postoperative analgesia for women with osteogenesis imperfecta are discussed.

Anesthetic management of spinal muscle atrophy type II in a parturient.

We report the peripartum management of a 30-year-old wheelchair-bound nullipara woman with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type II, including severe restrictive lung disease and Harrington rods. At 38 weeks gestation, she was admitted for an induction of labor with neuraxial analgesia, but she subsequently had to be delivered via cesarean section under general anesthesia. We describe the anesthetic implications of SMA on labor and delivery management and review the available literature.

An analysis of risk factors and adverse events in ambulatory surgery

License. The full terms of the License are available at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. Permissions beyond the scope of the License are administered by Dove Medical Press Limited. Information on how to request permission may be found at: http://www.dovepress.com/permissions.php Ambulatory Anesthesia 2014:1 3–10 Ambulatory Anesthesia Dovepress