The supine coronal midaxillary approach to anterior quadratus lumborum block: case report / Abordagem supina axilar média coronal para realização de bloqueio do quadrado lombar anterior: relato de casos

Abstract Background: There are various approaches to perform an ultrasound guided Quadratus Lumborum Block (QLB). The lateral, posterior, anterior or trans muscular and subcostal paramedian are the various approaches described for performing a QLB. Each of these blocks are aimed to achieve a maximum spread with high volume and low concentration of local anesthetics. Case report: In this novel approach a curvilinear ultrasound probe was used with the patient lying in supine position. The probe was placed longitudinally in the mid axillary line to visualize Quadratus Lumborum Muscle (QLM) in the coronal plane. The needle was then introduced from cranial to caudal direction and catheters were inserted in the Anterior Thoracolumbar Fascia (ATLF) up to a distance of 4-5 cm in 24 patients for an anterior approach to acetabulum fractures. The needle tip and the Local Anesthetic (LA) spread was visible in all patients. All patients except 4 had excellent perioperative pain relief considering stable hemodynamics and VAS 2-3/10 for the first 48 hours. All patients received 1 g intravenous paracetamol each 8 hours. VAS in postoperative period was 2-3/10, in 20/24 patients. In the postoperative period, 4 patients complained of persistent pain, requiring intravenous fentanyl boluses and multimodal analgesia. Mean VAS score was 2.87 from 0-12 hours, 3.14 from 12-24 hours and 3.35 from 24-48 hours. There were no block-related complications in any patient. Conclusion: The supine midaxillary coronal approach to anterior QLB is an effective and feasible approach to QLB which can be performed in supine position.

Resumo Justificativa: Existem várias abordagens para a realização do Bloqueio do Quadrado Lombar (BQL) guiado por ultrassom. Diversas abordagens são descritas para a realização do BQL: paramediana lateral, posterior, anterior ou transmuscular e subcostal, todas com o objetivo de obter a máxima dispersão da solução injetada, usando-se alto volume e baixa concentração de anestésico local. Relato de caso: Nesta nova abordagem, a sonda de ultrassom curvilínea foi usada com o paciente em decúbito dorsal. A sonda foi posicionada longitudinalmente na linha axilar média para visualizar o Músculo Quadrado Lombar (MQL) no plano coronal. A agulha foi introduzida na direção cranial-caudal, e foram inseridos cateteres na Fáscia Toracolombar Anterior (FTLA) até uma distância de 4-5 cm, em 24 pacientes a serem submetidos à correção de fratura do acetábulo pela via anterior. O bisel da agulha e a dispersão do Anestésico Local (AL) eram visíveis em todos os pacientes. Os 24 pacientes, com exceção de quatro, apresentaram excelente analgesia perioperatória, baseando-se na estabilidade hemodinâmica e nos escores EVA de 2-3/10 nas primeiras 48 horas. Todos os pacientes receberam 1 g de paracetamol intravenoso a cada 8 horas. O escore EVA no período pós-operatório foi de 2-3/10, em 20 dos 24 pacientes. No período pós-operatório, quatro pacientes apresentaram queixa de dor persistente, necessitando de bolus de fentanil por via intravenosa e analgesia multimodal. O escore médio da EVA no pós-operatório foi 2,87 entre 0-12 horas; 3,14 entre 12-24 horas e 3,35 entre 24-48 horas pós-operatórias. Não houve complicações relacionadas ao bloqueio em nenhum paciente. Conclusão: A abordagem supina axilar média coronal para BQL anterior é eficaz e viável para BQL, e pode ser realizada com os pacientes em decúbito dorsal.

Small Steps for a Big Change: Attention towards Preanalytical Error

Aims: The study aimed to evaluate the preanalytical errors in the Indoor patient department in tertiary care Hospital.To calculate the percentage of preanalyticalerrors in the Indoor patient department in our Hospital and to recommend standard operative interventions to improve quality of results. To test the effectiveness of attention by continuous educational action at reducing preanalytical errors and improvingpatient care.Study Design:An observational study.Place and Duration of Study: The work was done from July 2014 to July 2015at a tertiary care Hospital India.Methodology:We retrospectively reviewed the samples and test request forms received at Biochemistry laboratory for one month. The outcome measures were incomplete laboratory forms, mislabeling samples, inappropriate tests, wrong container, poor quality of samples and transportation problems. Two weeks of interventions in the form of continuous educational training and education regarding standard operative procedures were given to stakeholders to raise awareness towards the preanalytical phase. Two weeks later, data was monitored again for one month. Results:2330 and 2130 samples and request forms were monitored before-after intervention respectively from wards for one month each. Of the total chances of preanalytical errors, 22.17% were due to inappropriate tests, 81.5% were related to incomplete patient information, 97% lacking clinical information, 18.8% errors related to specimen information, 3.5% errors were of the deranged quality of the specimen, and in4.5% transportation problems were observed. Subsequently, these were reduced to 10%, 20%, 16.4%, 7.5%, 2.3%, 3.1% respectively. A significant difference in percentage change was observed in all the above errors after the one-month interventions for the reduction in preanalytical errors. Conclusion:The results of the present study revealed that taking small steps in the form of implementing standard operative procedures for collection, storage and transport facilities and continuous educational training of stakeholders would reduce big errors occurring due to human factors in preanalytical phase. We need good interdepartmental communication and cooperation to achieve good laboratory results and patient well being. This study improved the quality of test results and patient care