Bloqueo epidural lumbar continuo para espasmos vesicales incoercibles

We present a clinical case of bladder spasms due to detrusor overactitivity, triggered by continuous vesicoclysis therapy, which was applied in a patient with benign prostatic hypertrophy-related hematuria. Bladder spasms turned out to be refractory to combined antimuscarinic, spasmolytic and systemic opioid therapies. Implantation of a lumbar epidural catheter was chosen for continuous epidural infusion of local anesthetics and opioid drugs as an alternate analgesic therapy, which provided the patient an optimum comfort, but let urethral indwelling catheterization and the maintenance of continuous vesicoclysis therapy as well. We reviewed scientific literature concerning bladder-afferent neurotransmission blockade at epidural level for dysfunctional bladder pain therapy, and discussed several published theories about pain physiopathology and origin in those cases of dysfunctional bladder disturbance, with the aim to interpret the peculiarity and complexity of the described clinical case.Presentamos un caso clínico de espasmos vesicales por hiperactividad del detrusor de la vejiga, desencadenados por lavado vesical continuo aplicado en un paciente con hematuria, en el contexto de hipertrofia benigna de próstata. Los espasmos llegaron a ser refractarios a tratamiento sistémico con antimuscarínicos, espasmolíticos y opioides. Se optó por la colocación de un catéter epidural lumbar para infusión continua de anestésicos locales y opioides como terapia analgésica alternativa, que no solo proporcionó un aceptable grado de confort, sino que permitió el mantenimiento del sondaje uretral y el lavado vesical continuo. Realizamos una revisión bibliográfica sobre el uso del bloqueo epidural de la neurotransmisión de las aferencias sensitivas vesicales en dolor de origen disfuncional vesical, y analizamos algunas de la teorías publicadas sobre la fisiopatología y génesis de dolor en estos trastornos vesicales, con la intención de interpretar las peculiaridades y complejidad del dolor en el cuadro del caso presentado

Prospective Observational Study after Eversion Carotid Endarterectomy with Ultrasound-Guided Deep-Intermediate Cervical Plexus Blockade

(1) Introduction: The aim was to describe the anesthetic and surgical technique of eversion carotid endarterectomy performed under intermediate-deep cervical block with sedation, and to analyze the intraoperative and postoperative results. (2) Material and Methods: Thirty cases of unilateral eversion carotid endarterectomy (n = 30), performed between 2019–2020 in a tertiary center under intermediate-deep ultrasound-guided cervical plexus block and sedation, were prospectively observed and analyzed. Hemodynamic (blood pressure, heart rate) and neurological (cerebral oximetry) variables were measured in four intraoperative phases: at the beginning of the operation, prior to carotid clamping, after unclamping and at the end of the operation. We assessed acute postoperative pain in a numerical rating scale at 6, 12 and 24 h, early and 30-day complications, and length of stay. (3) Results: Baseline mean arterial pressure values were 100.4 ± 18 mmHg, pre-clamping 95.8 ± 14 mmHg, post-clamping 94.9 ± 11 mmHg, and at the end of the operation 102.4 ± 16 mmHg. Cerebral oximetry values were 61.7 ± 7/62.7 ± 8, 68.5 ± 9.6/69.1 ± 11.7 and 68.1 ± 10/68.1 ± 10 for the left and right hemispheres at baseline, pre- and post-clamping, respectively. The pain assessment showed a score less than or equal to 3. The incidence of residual nerve block, early complications, and major complications in the first 30 days was 40%, 16.7% and 3.3%, respectively. (4) Conclusions: The combination of intermediate-deep cervical plexus block and low-dose sedation is an effective and safe alternative in awake eversion carotid endarterectomy

Post-anaesthesia pulmonary complications after use of muscle relaxants (POPULAR): a multicentre, prospective observational study

Background Results from retrospective studies suggest that use of neuromuscular blocking agents during general anaesthesia might be linked to postoperative pulmonary complications. We therefore aimed to assess whether the use of neuromuscular blocking agents is associated with postoperative pulmonary complications. Methods We did a multicentre, prospective observational cohort study. Patients were recruited from 211 hospitals in 28 European countries. We included patients (aged ≥18 years) who received general anaesthesia for any in-hospital procedure except cardiac surgery. Patient characteristics, surgical and anaesthetic details, and chart review at discharge were prospectively collected over 2 weeks. Additionally, each patient underwent postoperative physical examination within 3 days of surgery to check for adverse pulmonary events. The study outcome was the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications from the end of surgery up to postoperative day 28. Logistic regression analyses were adjusted for surgical factors and patients’ preoperative physical status, providing adjusted odds ratios (ORadj) and adjusted absolute risk reduction (ARRadj). This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01865513. Findings Between June 16, 2014, and April 29, 2015, data from 22803 patients were collected. The use of neuromuscular blocking agents was associated with an increased incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications in patients who had undergone general anaesthesia (1658 [7·6%] of 21694); ORadj 1·86, 95% CI 1·53–2·26; ARRadj –4·4%, 95% CI –5·5 to –3·2). Only 2·3% of high-risk surgical patients and those with adverse respiratory profiles were anaesthetised without neuromuscular blocking agents. The use of neuromuscular monitoring (ORadj 1·31, 95% CI 1·15–1·49; ARRadj –2·6%, 95% CI –3·9 to –1·4) and the administration of reversal agents (1·23, 1·07–1·41; –1·9%, –3·2 to –0·7) were not associated with a decreased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. Neither the choice of sugammadex instead of neostigmine for reversal (ORadj 1·03, 95% CI 0·85–1·25; ARRadj –0·3%, 95% CI –2·4 to 1·5) nor extubation at a train-of-four ratio of 0·9 or more (1·03, 0·82–1·31; –0·4%, –3·5 to 2·2) was associated with better pulmonary outcomes. Interpretation We showed that the use of neuromuscular blocking drugs in general anaesthesia is associated with an increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. Anaesthetists must balance the potential benefits of neuromuscular blockade against the increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications