Effects of perioperative transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation on postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing shoulder arthroscopic surgery / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe and evaluate the effects of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) at different time points on postoperative analgesia in perioperative period in patients undergoing shoulder arthroscopic surgery, and to explore the optimal time to use TEAS for shoulder arthroscopic surgery.@*METHODS@#A total of 120 patients undergoing unilateral shoulder arthroscopy under general anesthesia, graded withⅠtoⅡaccording to ASA criteria were randomly divided into 3 groups, 40 patients in each one. The patients in the group A were treated with preoperative TEAS at sham acupoints combined with postoperative TEAS at Hegu (LI 4) and Neiguan (PC 6); the patients in the group B were treated with preoperative TEAS at Hegu (LI 4) and Neiguan (PC 6) combined with postoperative TEAS at sham acupoints; the patients in the group C were treated with TEAS at sham acupoints before and after operation. The parameters of TEAS were dilatational wave, 2 Hz/100 Hz in frequency, 30 min. When the resting-state visual analogue scale (VAS) of incision was more than 3 points, the patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) pump of sufentanil was administered to maintain the VAS no more than 3 points. The time point when PCIA pump was firstly used, the used dose of sufentanil and effective pressing number of PCIA pump within 24 hours after surgery were recorded. Intraoperative anesthetic doses were recorded in the three groups. The resting-state and task-state VAS were evaluated at 0, 6, 12, 24 hours after surgery; the patient's satisfaction rate and adverse effects were recorded.@*RESULTS@#The time when PCIA pump was firstly used in the group A and the group B was significantly longer than that in the group C, and the used dose of sufentanil and effective pressing number of PCIA pump within 24 hours after surgery in the group A and group B were significantly less than those in the group C (all 0.05). There were no statistically significant difference in VAS score at different postoperative time points and postoperative analgesia satisfaction rate between the two groups (all >0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Perioperative TEAS could improve the postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery, delay the time when PCIA pump is firstly used, reduce the dosage of postoperative analgesics and adverse events. Compared before surgery, postoperative TEAS has better analgesia.

Effect of an epinephrine mixture for interscalene block on hemodynamic changes after the beach chair position under general anesthesia: a retrospective study / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: The beach chair position (BCP) can cause significant hypotension. Epinephrine is used to prolong the duration of local anesthetics; it is also absorbed into blood and can exert systemic effects. This study determined the effects of epinephrine mixed with ropivacaine for an interscalene block (ISB) on hemodynamic changes related to BCP. METHODS: Patient data collected from March 2013 to August 2014 were used retrospectively. We divided the patients into three groups: 1) ISB only, 2) I+G (general anesthesia after ISB without epinephrine), and 3) I+E+G (general anesthesia after ISB with epinephrine). Mean blood pressure (MBP) and heart rate (HR) were measured for 30 minutes at 5-minute intervals. RESULTS: The study analyzed data from 431 patients. MBP tended to decrease gradually in the groups I+G and I+E+G. There were significant differences in MBP between the groups I+G and I, and between the groups I+G and I+E+G. Group I+E+G showed a significant increase in HR compared with the other two groups. CONCLUSIONS: ISB with an epinephrine mixture did not prevent hypotension caused by the BCP after general anesthesia. HR increased only in response to the epinephrine mixture. A well-planned prospective study is required to compare hemodynamic changes in that context.

Ultrasound assisted parascalene brachial plexus block for performing arthroscopic shoulder surgery: report on 8 cases: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Performing a brachial plexus block is very useful for shoulder arthroscopic surgery. Several techniques for blocking the brachial plexus have been described with the purpose of improving the efficacy and minimizing the risk. The parascalene approach was introduced in 1979. This block approaches at the lateral border of the anterior scalene muscle and superior to the clavicle. At this level, the incidences of phrenic nerve paralysis and spinal or epidural anesthesia should be minimized. Previous studies have reported on ultrasound-assisted brachial plexus blocks, but few studies have applied this imaging technology to the parascalene region. We report here on 8 cases of parascalene brachial plexus block with using ultrasound guidance to show the clinical usefulness of this technology for conducting arthroscopic shoulder surgery. Ultrasound technology is valuable to anesthesiologists to localize nerves and the needle placement during the parascalene approach to block the brachial plexus for conducting arthroscopic shoulder surgery.

Tension pneumothorax after arthroscopic shoulder surgery: A case report

While arthroscopic shoulder surgery is considered relatively safe, complications have been reported.Though rare, pneumothorax has been reported in patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery.Tension pneumothorax must be immediately recognized and treated due to its potentially life threatening consequences.The authors present a case of a patient who developed tension pneumothorax after arthroscopic shoulder surgery, and its anesthetic managements.

The Effect of Preoperative Interscalene Block Using Low-Dose Mepivacaine on the Postoperative Pain after Shoulder Arthroscopic Surgery

BACKGROUND: Shoulder arthroscopic surgery is frequently associated with severe postoperative pain, which can be difficult to manage without the use of high-dose opioids. Although an interscalene brachial plexus block (ISBPB) can be used to provide anesthesia for shoulder arthroscopic surgery, its effect using low-dose mepivacaine on postoperative pain management has not been reported. We hypothesized that ISBPB using a low-dose mepivacaine can provide effective postoperative analgesia for shoulder arthroscopic surgery without the need for high-dose opioids and act as a significant motor or sensory block. METHODS: This study examined a total of 40 patients, who underwent shoulder arthroscopic surgery, and received ISBPB with 10 ml of normal saline (group NS; n = 20) or 10 ml of 1% mepivacaine with epinephrine 1:200,000 (group MC; n = 20). The block was performed preoperatively. The postoperative pain score, opioid consumption, and side effect were recorded. RESULTS: The visual analog scale scores were significantly lower in group MC than in group NS at 120 minutes after shoulder arthroscopic surgery (1.9 +/- 1.0 versus 4.0 +/- 1.4). Group MC showed significantly lower fentanyl consumption after shoulder arthroscoic surgery than group NS (27 +/- 32.6 versus 79 +/- 18.9microgram). The degree of motor and sensory block after surgery was minimal. CONCLUSIONS: ISBPB using low-dose mepivacaine reduced the level of postoperative pain and fentanyl consumption without significant side effects. ISBPB using low-dose mepivacaine is a useful analgesic technique for shoulder arthroscopic surgery.