Dexmedetomidine for the prevention of shivering during spinal anesthesia

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine on shivering during spinal anesthesia. METHODS: Sixty patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I or II, aged 18-50 years), scheduled for elective minor surgical operations under spinal anesthesia with hyperbaric bupivacaine, were enrolled. They were administered saline (group C, n = 30) or dexmedetomidine (group D, n = 30). Motor block was assessed using a Modified Bromage Scale. The presence of shivering was assessed by a blinded observer after the completion of subarachnoid drug injection. RESULTS: Hypothermia was observed in 21 patients (70%) in group D and in 20 patients (66.7%) in group C (p = 0.781). Three patients (10%) in group D and 17 patients (56.7%) in group C experienced shivering (p = 0.001). The intensity of shivering was lower in group D than in group C (p = 0.001). Time from baseline to onset of shivering was 10 (5-15) min in group D and 15 (5-45) min in group C (p = 0.207). CONCLUSION: Dexmedetomidine infusion in the perioperative period significantly reduced shivering associated with spinal anesthesia during minor surgical procedures without any major adverse effect during the perioperative period. Therefore, we conclude that dexmedetomidine infusion is an effective drug for preventing shivering and providing sedation in patients during spinal anesthesia

Transient neurological symptoms after spinal anesthesia

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of transient neurological symptoms (TNS) after spinal anesthesia with levobupivacaine, bupivacaine, articaine or lidocaine. Methods: The patients (n=400) were randomly assigned to receive spinal anesthesia with levobupivacaine, bupivacaine, articaine or isobaric lidocaine. Onsets of sensory and motor block were recorded. On postoperative days 1, 2 and 3, patients were interviewed by an investigator blinded to the spinal anaesthetic agent used. The patients were classified as having TNS if there was pain in the hips, thighs and/or lower limbs following recovery from anesthesia. Results: Time to maximum sensory block was significantly longer in the articaine group than the lidocaine group. The incidence of TNS was much less after spinal anesthesia with levobupivacaine, bupivacaine and articaine than after lidocaine

Pulsed Radiofrequency Application in the Entrapment Neuropathy of a Sural Nerve

Compressive and entrapment neuropathy of the peroneal nerve is the most common entrapment syndrome in the lower limbs, often caused by mechanical or dynamic compression of a segment of nerve at the level of the fibula head. Because of its special anatomic situation, external compression while under trauma or traction is quite easy. A case of entrapment neuropathy syndrome in a 33-year-old man treated by pulse radiofrequency to the lateral cutaneous branch of the common peroneal nerve is presented

Transient neurological symptoms after spinal anesthesia

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of transient neurological symptoms (TNS) after spinal anesthesia with levobupivacaine, bupivacaine, articaine or lidocaine. Methods: The patients (n=400) were randomly assigned to receive spinal anesthesia with levobupivacaine, bupivacaine, articaine or isobaric lidocaine. Onsets of sensory and motor block were recorded. On postoperative days 1, 2 and 3, patients were interviewed by an investigator blinded to the spinal anaesthetic agent used. The patients were classified as having TNS if there was pain in the hips, thighs and/or lower limbs following recovery from anesthesia. Results: Time to maximum sensory block was significantly longer in the articaine group than the lidocaine group. The incidence of TNS was much less after spinal anesthesia with levobupivacaine, bupivacaine and articaine than after lidocaine.</jats:p

The comparison of preincisional peritonsillar infiltration of ketamine and tramadol for postoperative pain relief on children following adenotonsillectomy

Objective: To investigate and compare the effectiveness of preincisional peritonsillar infiltration of ketamine and tramadol for post-operative pain on children following adenotonsillectomy. Study design: Prospective randomized double blind controlled study. Methods: Seventy-five children aged 3-10 years undergoing adenotonsillectomy were included in study. Patients received injections in peritonsillar fossa of tramadol (2 mg/kg-2 ml), ketamine (0.5 mg/kg-2 ml) or 2 ml serum physiologic. During operation heart rate, oxygen saturation, average mean blood pressures were recorded in every 5 min. Operation, anesthesia and the time that Alderete scores 9-10, patient satisfaction, analgesic requirements were recorded. Postoperatively nausea, vomiting, sedation, dysphagia, bleeding scores were recorded at 0, 10, 30, 60 min and 2, 4, 8, 12, 18, 24 h postoperatively. Pain was evaluated using modified Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Pain Scale (mCHEOPS) at fixed intervals after the procedure (15 min and 1, 4, 12, 16, and 24 h postoperatively). Results: The recordings of heart rate, mean arterial pressure, nausea, vomiting, sedation and bleeding scores were similar in all groups (p > 0.05). The mCHEOPS scores at 10 min, 30 min, 1 h, 8 h were significantly lower in both tramadol and ketamine group when compared with control (p 0.05). Conclusions: Preincisional injection of ketamine and tramadol prior to tonsillectomy is safe, effective method and equivalent for post-tonsillectomy pain, patient satisfaction, postoperative nausea, vomiting, dysphagia. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

A Needle-Free Injection System (INJEX™) with lidocaine for epidural needle insertion: A randomized controlled trial

Objectives: Local anesthetic infiltration is also a process of a painful process itself. INJEX (TM) technology, known as Needle-free drug delivery system, was designed for reducing the pain associated with cutaneous procedures. We conducted a prospective, randomized trial to evaluate the application of lidocaine with INJEX (TM) system and 27-gauge needle. Methods: A total of 60 consecutive patients were allocated to receive either INJEX group or 27-gauge needle group. Local anesthetic infiltration was applied two minutes before epidural needle insertion. Results: Mean VAS, at the time of local anesthetic injection was 0 for group I and 2 for group II. When the effect of epidural needle insertion was compared, the mean VAS score was one versus two for Group-I versus Group-II, respectively. Lidocaine applied with the INJEX (TM) system before epidural needle insertion significantly reduced the intensity of pain during that procedure and was least effective the lidocaine applied with the 27-gauge needle and patients felt less pain during at the time of local anesthetic injection in Group-I. Conclusion: Needle-free delivery of lidocaine is an effective, easy to-use and noninvasive method of providing local anesthesia for the epidural needle insertion