Superior cluneal nerve entrapment

Background and Objectives: Pain due to superior cluneal nerve entrapment is an infrequent cause of unilateral low back pain. Here we present a case of acute unilateral low back pain treated by superior cluneal nerve (SCN) block.

Complications of epidural neuroplasty: A retrospective evaluation

Percutaneous epidural neuroplasty (lysis of epidural adhesions, epidural application of hypertonic saline) is an interventional technique for the management of pain due to spinal disorders. Epidural neuroplasty is found to be effective in removing fibrous tissue occurring in the epidural space for various reasons, however, the procedure may be prone to serious complications. We present here our retrospectively collected complications and precautions of complications of epidural neuroplasty in 250 patients. Neuroplasty, as per the technique of Racz et al., was only considered in patients suffering from low back and cervical pain after conservative treatments had been tried and had failed. Possible known complications include bending of the tip of the introducer needle, shearing/tearing of the catheter, misplacement of the catheter, inadvertent blockage of the catheter or catheter tip, migration of the catheter, hypotension, respiratory depression, urinary and/or fecal incontinence, urinary hesitancy, sexual dysfunction, paresthesia, epidural abscess, and meningitis. We found the following complications in our series: the tips of the introducer needle were bent in 12 patients; catheter sheaths were torn during withdrawal through the needle in three patients; 39 patients had bleeding or aspiration of blood from the epidural space; eight patients had their catheters migrate into an epidural vein; one patient's catheter migrated into the prevertebral space during the procedure; there were dural punctures in 11 patients; there were catheter blockages in six patients during consecutive applications of neuroplasty; hypotension was seen during and after drug injections in 12 patients, there was hypotension in one patient; three patients had migration and penetration of their catheters into the dura after placement and in consecutive days; 25 patients experienced numbness in dermatomal areas of the upper and lower extremities depending the level of the procedure; and there were eight infections at the entry site of the catheter, three epidural abscesses, and two patients with meningitis. In order to prevent complications such as those seen, epidural neuroplasty procedures must be performed in well-equipped centers by experienced hands

Efficacy of coeliac plexus and splanchnic nerve blockades in body and tail located pancreatic cancer pain

Palliative treatment, pain therapy and quality of life (QOL) are very important in pancreatic cancer patients. We evaluated the pain relieving efficacy, side effects and effects on QOL of neurolytic coeliac plexus blockade (NCPB) and splanchnic nerves neurolytic blockade (SNB) in body and tail located pancreatic cancer

Transdiscal approach for hypogastric plexus block

Background and objectives: In this study, we have performed hypogastric plexus block using a posterior transdiscal approach in 20 patients diagnosed with pelvic pain because of cancer

Intratunical bupivacaine and methylprednisolone instillation for scrotal pain after testicular sperm retrieval procedures

Aim: To investigate the effect of intratunical instillation of bupivacaine and methylprednisolone for scrotal pain, swelling and peritesticular fibrosis due to testicular sperm retrieval procedures. Methods: A total of 65 patients were randomly divided into two groups. In the instillation group (GI), 34 patients were administered 2.5 mL of 0.5 % bupivacaine combined with 10 mg/mL methylprednisolone before closure of the tunica vaginalis. In the control group (GC), 31 patients only received analgesics postoperatively by intramuscular route. The pain (by visual analogue scale, VAS) and duration of pain-free period after surgery between the two groups were evaluated at 2 and 4 h and at days 2 and 7 postoperatively. Results: The mean pain scores were significantly lower in the GI than in the GC group at 2 and 4 h after surgery (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively). The mean duration of pain free interval after the procedure was 47.8 +/- 16.9 (12-72) h in GI, which was significantly longer than that in GC [(9.9 +/- 3.6; 4-20) h]. Besides, in the GI, 29 % of patients were completely free from pain and 67 % had no scrotal swelling, but in the GC, all the patients required additional NSAID injection due to pain and only 3 % had no scrotal swelling. Conclusion: This study confirms that direct intratunical instillation of bupivacaine and methylprednisolone around the testis reduces the postoperative pain, scrotal swelling and peritesticular fibrosis

Intravenous administration of caffeine sodium benzoate for postdural puncture headache

Background and Objectives. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of prophylactic administration of intravenous caffeine sodium benzoate for postdural puncture headaches (PDPH) on patients administered spinal anesthesia. Methods. Sixty ASA I and Il patients undergoing lower abdominal or lower extremity surgery were included in this study. Patients were randomized by double-blind, placebocontrolled design to receive either 1,000 mt normal saline with 500 mg caffeine sodium benzoate (group C) or 1,000 mt normal saline (group S) during the first 90 minutes after spinal anesthesia administration. The patient's electrocardiogram, noninvasive blood pressure, and pulse oximetry were monitored and recorded. The patients' headaches were evaluated by using the visual analog scale (VAS). At the end of the fifth day, the severity of the headache was classified as follows: no headache = 0; mild headache = 1; moderate headache = 2; severe headache = 3. Analgesic requirements were recorded for 5 days. Results. Visual analog scale scores were significantly lower in group C than in group S. The incidence of moderate and severe headache was significantly higher in group S (11 patients) when compared with group C (3 patients). Analgesic demand was si,significantly lower in group C than in group S for 4 days. Conclusion. Intravenous caffeine sodium benzoate administration during spinal anesthesia is a simple and safe way to minimize PDPH

The efficacy and safety of venlafaxine in the prophylaxis of migraine

Objective.-To evaluate the efficacy and safety of venlafaxine in the prophylaxis of migraine