Efficacy of ultrasound-guided infiltration with levobupivacaine and triamcinolone for myofascial pain syndrome of the quadratus lumborum: a retrospective observational study

Abstract Introduction and objectives: Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS) of the Quadratus Lumborum muscle (QL) is a frequent cause of chronic low back pain. With this study, we aimed to assess the efficacy of ultrasound-guided infiltration with 0.25% levobupivacaine and 40 mg triamcinolone for MPS of the QL. Methods: Observational and retrospective study of participants submitted to ultrasound-guided infiltration of the QL muscle from January 1, 2015 to June 31, 2019. Pain intensity was assessed using the five-point pain Numeric Rating Scale (NRS): pre-intervention, at 72 hours, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months post-intervention. Additional data collected were demographic characteristics, opioid consumption, and adverse effects. Results: We assessed 90 participants with mean age of 55.2 years. Sixty-eight percent of participants were female. Compared to the pre-intervention assessment, there was an improvement in pain at 72 hours (Mean Difference [MD = 3.085]; 95% CI: 2.200-3.970, p < 0.05), at the 1st month (MD = 2.644; 95% CI: 1.667-3.621, p < 0.05), at the 3rdmonth (MD = 2.017; 95% CI: 0.202-2.729, p < 0.05) and at the 6th month (MD = 1.339; 95% CI 0.378-2.300, p < 0.05), post-intervention. No statistically significant differences in opioid consumption were observed. No adverse effects associated with the technique were reported. Conclusions: Ultrasound-guided infiltration of the QL muscle is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of pain in the QL MPS within 6 months post-intervention.

Supra-inguinal fascia iliaca block in older-old patients for hip fractures: a retrospective study

Abstract Background: Pain management in hip fracture patients is of great importance for reducing postoperative morbidity and mortality. Multimodal techniques, including peripheral nerve blocks, are preferred for postoperative analgesia. Older-old hip fracture patients with high ASA scores are highly sensitive to the side effects of NSAIDs and opioids. Our aim was to investigate the effectiveness of the recently popularized Supra-Inguinal Fascia Iliaca Block (SIFIB) in this population. Methods: Forty-one ASA III-IV patients who underwent SIFIB + PCA (G-SIFIB) or PCA alone (Group Control: GC) after general anesthesia were evaluated retrospectively. In addition to 24-hour opioid consumption, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores, opioid-related side effects, block-related complications, and length of hospital stay were compared. Results: Twenty-two patients in G-SIFIB and 19 patients in GC were evaluated. The postoperative 24-hour opioid consumption was lower in G-SIFIB than in GC (p < 0.001). There was a statistically significant reduction in VAS scores at the postoperative 1st, 3rd, and 6th hours at rest (p < 0.001) and during movement (p < 0.001 for the 1st and 3rd hours, and p = 0.02 for the 6th hour) in G-SIFIB compared to GC. There was no difference in pain scores at the 12th and 24th hours postoperatively. While there was no difference between the groups in terms of other side effects, respiratory depression was significantly higher in GC than in G-SIFIB (p = 0.01). Conclusion: The SIFIB technique has a significant opioid-sparing effect and thus reduces opioid-related side effects in the first 24 hours after hip fracture surgery in older-old patients.

Mioclonías positivas y negativas en paciente con enfermedad renal crónica / Positive and negative myoclonus in a patient with end stage renal disease

Introducción: Las mioclonías son contracciones musculares paroxísticas de corta duración o pérdida abrupta del tono muscular, denominadas mioclonías positivas y negativas, respectivamente. Se presenta un caso clínico de mioclonías positivas y negativas generalizadas y se pretende describir los múltiples mecanismos fisiopatológicos y etiologías que lo desencadenan. Presentación del caso: Hombre de 35 años, con diabetes mellitus tipo 1 complicada con enfermedad renal diabética en hemodiálisis, desarrolló una bacteriemia asociada a catéter por Staphylococcus aureus y presentó mioclonías positivas y negativas. Se identificaron como posibles desencadenantes la uremia, la infección y los fármacos con potencial promioclónico; el hallazgo incidental de una lesión isquémica en núcleo caudado no explicaba la semiología encontrada en el paciente. Se hizo el control y retiro de todos los factores promioclónicos enunciados, junto a manejo farmacológico con levetiracetam, y con ello se logró el control de los síntomas. Discusión: Los pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica son susceptibles a la acumulación de productos tóxicos de tipo guanidinas, que tienen potencial para producir mioclonías. Además, las infecciones, el uso de fármacos con potencial promioclónico y lesiones estructurales como las isquemias corticales son etiologías que deben considerarse en el diagnóstico diferencial. El mayor impacto en los síntomas se observa con el control del factor desencadenante, y, en caso de persistir, la terapia farmacológica proporciona buenos resultados. Conclusión: Las mioclonías son trastornos del movimiento relativamente comunes en la enfermedad renal crónica. La identificación del desencadenante es crucial para su manejo junto al uso de fármacos con actividad antimioclónica.

Introduction: Myoclonus are paroxysmal muscle contractions of short duration or abrupt loss of muscle tone, called positive and negative myoclonus respectively. A clinical case of generalized positive and negative myoclonus is presented and the aim is to describe the multiple pathophysiological mechanisms and etiologies that trigger it. Case presentation: A 35-year-old man with type 1 diabetes mellitus complicated by diabetic kidney disease on hemodialysis developed catheter-associated bacteremia due to Staphylococcus aureus and presented positive and negative myoclonus. Uremia, infection, and drugs with pro-myoclonic potential were identified as possible triggers; The incidental finding of an ischemic lesion in the caudate nucleus did not explain the semiology found in the patient. The control and removal of all the pro-myoclonic factors mentioned was carried out, along with pharmacological management with levetiracetam, thus achieving control of the symptoms. Discussion: Patients with chronic kidney disease are susceptible to the accumulation of guanidine-type toxic products, which have the potential to produce myoclonus. Furthermore, infections, the use of drugs with pro-myoclonic potential and structural lesions such as cortical ischemia are etiologies that should be considered in the differential diagnosis. The greatest impact on symptoms is observed with the control of the triggering factor and if it persists, pharmacological therapy provides good results. Conclusion: Myoclonus are relatively common movement disorders in chronic kidney disease. Identification of the trigger is crucial for its management along with the use of drugs with anti-myoclonic activity.

Impacto de la implementación de un protocolo de sedoanalgesia en una unidad de cuidados intensivos pediátricos / Impact of the implementation of a sedation and analgesia protocol in a pediatric intensive care unit

Introducción. La adecuada sedación y analgesia es fundamental en el tratamiento de pacientes que requieren asistencia ventilatoria mecánica (AVM). Se recomienda la utilización de protocolos y su monitoreo; son dispares los resultados reportados sobre adhesión e impacto. Objetivos. Evaluar el impacto de la implementación de un protocolo de sedoanalgesia sobre el uso de benzodiacepinas, opioides y evolución en la unidad de cuidados intensivos pediátricos (UCIP), en pacientes que requieren AVM mayor a 72 horas. Métodos. Estudio tipo antes-después, no controlado, en la UCIP de un hospital pediátrico. Se desarrolló en 3 etapas: preintervención de diagnóstico situacional (de abril a septiembre de 2019), intervención y posintervención de implementación del protocolo de sedoanalgesia, educación sobre uso y monitorización de adherencia y su impacto (de octubre de 2019 a octubre de 2021). Resultados. Ingresaron al estudio 99 y 92 pacientes en las etapas pre- y posintervención, respectivamente. Presentaron mayor gravedad, menor edad y peso en el período preintervención. En la comparación de grupos, luego de ajustar por gravedad y edad, en la etapa posintervención se reportó una reducción en los días de uso de opioides en infusión continua (6 ± 5,2 vs. 7,6 ± 5,8; p = 0,018) y los días de uso de benzodiacepinas en infusión continua (3,3 ± 3,5 vs. 7,6 ± 6,8; p = 0,001). No se observaron diferencias significativas en los días de AVM y en los días totales de uso de benzodiacepinas. Conclusión. La implementación de un protocolo de sedoanalgesia permitió reducir el uso de fármacos en infusión continua.

Introduction. Adequate sedation and analgesia is essential in the management of patients requiring mechanical ventilation (MV). The implementation of protocols and their monitoring is recommended; mixed results on adherence and impact have been reported. Objectives. To assess the impact of the implementation of a sedation and analgesia protocol on the use of benzodiazepines, opioids, and evolution in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in patients requiring MV for more than 72 hours. Methods. Before-and-after, uncontrolled study in the PICU of a children's hospital. The study was developed in 3 stages: pre-intervention for situational diagnosis (from April to September 2019), intervention, and post-intervention for implementation of a sedation and analgesia protocol, education on use, and monitoring of adherence and impact (from October 2019 to October 2021). Results. A total of 99 and 92 patients were included in the study in the pre- and post-intervention stages, respectively. Patients had a more severe condition, were younger, and had a lower weight in the preintervention period. After adjusting for severity and age, the group comparison in the post-intervention stage showed a reduction in days of continuous infusion of opioids (6 ± 5.2 versus 7.6­5.8, p = 0.018) and days of continuous infusion of benzodiazepines (3.3 ± 3.5 versus 7.6 ± 6.8, p = 0.001). No significant  differences were observed in days of MV and total days of benzodiazepine use. Conclusion. The implementation of a sedation and analgesia protocol resulted in a reduction in the use of continuous infusion of drugs.

Cuidados paliativos prolongados, a propósito de un caso / Prolonged paliative care: case report

Actualmente, las recomendaciones sobre cuidados paliativos sugieren que éstos se inicien lo más tempranamente posible, con el objetivo de mejorar la calidad de vida del paciente y su familia, con un enfoque biopsicosocial. A pesar de ello, aún persiste en gran parte del personal de salud la idea de que los cuidados paliativos son estrictamente cuidados de fin de vida, por lo que se asocia inconscientemente un paciente en una fase final de su enfermedad. Algunos estudios sugieren que, a pesar de las recomendaciones, la práctica habitual aún mantiene esta costumbre. Adicionalmente, no existe una duración establecida para definir cuánto deberían durar estos cuidados. A continuación, el reporte de un caso de cáncer de tiroides papilar, neoplasia conocida por su curso relativamente benigno, para tratarse de un cáncer, de lenta progresión. Este fue diagnosticado de forma tardía, con metástasis pulmonar e insuficiencia respiratoria como primer motivo de consulta, hace 8 años. Esto contrasta enormemente con la duración promedio de cuidados paliativos alrededor del mundo, que se estima es de 19 días. El reporte de este caso pretende contrastar estas realidades y mostrar un ejemplo de cuidados paliativos prolongados, los beneficios y también posibles consecuencias que éstos han tenido en la vida del paciente.

Currently, recommendations about palliative care suggest that they should be started as early in the course of the disease as possible, with the goal of improving quality of life for patients and their families, with a biopsychosocial approach. Despite this, there's still a pervasive idea among healthcare givers that palliative care is given exclusively at the end of life, thus there's a subconscious association with a patient in the final stages of their disease. Studies suggest that despite recommendations, actual practice maintains this custom. Additionally, there's no definitive duration for palliative care. The following is a case report of papillary thyroid cancer, a disease known for a relatively benign course compared to other forms of cancer, and slow progression. This disease was diagnosed in an advanced stage, with pulmonary metastasis and respiratory failure, 8 years ago. This is in stark contrast with the average duration of palliative care around the world, which is estimated to be 19 days. This report intends to highlight this difference and show an example of prolonged palliative care, the benefits and potential consequences that these may have had on the patient's life.

Política pública en cuidados paliativos y sus implicaciones sobre servicios, opioides y educación en Colombia / Public policy on palliative care and its implications for services, opioids, and education in Colombia

Introducción: El desarrollo de cuidados paliativos exige la intervención de múltiples dimensiones de salud pública, incluyendo la disponibilidad de servicios de salud, medicamentos esenciales y programas educativos. En Colombia se han realizado diversos cambios en las políticas públicas para promover la atención de personas con necesidades paliativas. Objetivo: Evaluar empíricamente las políticas públicas, existentes en cuidados paliativos y sus implicaciones sobre disponibilidad de servicios, opioides y programas educativos en los años 2010 ­ 2019 en Colombia. Materiales y métodos: Se diseñó un estudio mixto exploratorio secuencial en tres fases: identificación de indicadores empíricos de políticas nacionales, diagnostico situacional de cuidados paliativos y evaluación cualitativa de los resultados de la implementación de políticas en siete nodos territoriales de Colombia. Resultados: Se revisaron siete normas obteniendo 12 indicadores empíricos para la evaluación, seis de ellos no contaban con fuentes de información. El diagnostico nacional evidencia un aumento gradual de servicios y consumo de opioides en los años hito del desarrollo de políticas. 44 profesionales de cuidados paliativos perciben un efecto positivo de las políticas públicas en el consumo de opioides y bajos resultados para el dominio de servicios y educación Conclusiones: Existe una relación positiva entre políticas públicas y consumo de opioides, una relación cuantitativa positiva para servicios de cuidados paliativos y una relación cuanticualitativa negativa para programas educativos, lo que denota un bajo estatus operativo de las políticas construidas para mejorar el dolor y sufrimiento asociado a la enfermedad crónica avanzada.

Introduction: Palliative care development requires the intervention of multiple dimensions of public health, including the availability of health services, essential medicines, and educational programs. In Colombia, several changes have been made in public policy to promote the care of people with palliative needs. Objective: To empirically evaluate existing public policies on palliative care and their implications for the availability of services, opioids, and educational programs during the years 2010 to 2019 in Colombia. Materials and methods: A mixed sequential exploratory study was designed in three phases: identification of empirical indicators of national policies, palliative care situational diagnosis, and qualitative assessment of the results of policy implementation in seven regional nodes in Colombia. Results: Seven standards were reviewed, yielding 12 empirical indicators for assessment, six of which had no sources of information. The national diagnosis shows a gradual increase in services and opioid use during the landmark years of policy development. Forty-four palliative care professionals perceive a positive effect of public policy on opioid use and low outcomes for service and education domains. Conclusions: There is a positive relationship between public policy and opioid use, a positive quantitative relationship with palliative care services, and a negative quantitative-qualitative relationship with educational programs. This indicates a low operational status of policies designed to alleviate the pain and suffering associated with advanced chronic diseases.

Introdução: O desenvolvimento dos cuidados paliativos requer a intervenção de múltiplas dimensões da saúde pública, incluindo a disponibilidade de serviços de saúde, medicamentos essenciais e programas educativos. Na Colômbia, várias mudanças foram feitas nas políticas públicas para promover o cuidado de pessoas com necessidades paliativas. Objetivo: Avaliar empiricamente as políticas públicas existentes em cuidados paliativos e suas implicações na disponibilidade de serviços, opioides e programas educacionais nos anos 2010 - 2019 na Colômbia. Materiais e métodos: Desenhou-se um estudo misto exploratório sequencial em três fases: identificação de indicadores empíricos de políticas nacionais, diagnóstico situacional de cuidados paliativos e avaliação qualitativa dos resultados da implementação de políticas em sete nodos territoriais da Colômbia. Resultados: Sete normas foram revisadas, obtendo-se 12 indicadores empíricos para avaliação, seis delas não possuíam fontes de informação. O diagnóstico nacional mostra um aumento gradual nos serviços e consumo de opioides nos anos marcantes do desenvolvimento de políticas. 44 profissionais de cuidados paliativos percebem efeito positivo das políticas públicas sobre o consumo de opioides e resultados baixos para o domínio serviços e educação Conclusões: Existe relação positiva entre políticas públicas e consumo de opioides, relação quantitativa positiva para serviços de cuidados paliativos e negativa relação quantitativo-qualitativa para programas educativos, o que denota um baixo status operacional das políticas destinadas a melhorar a dor e o sofrimento associados à doença crônica avançada.

Safety and effectiveness of adding fentanyl or sufentanil to spinal anesthesia: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Abstract Introduction Spinal infusions of either fentanyl or sufentanil have been reported in international reports, articles, and scientific events worldwide. This study aimed to determine whether intrathecal fentanyl or sufentanil offers safety in mortality and perioperative adverse events. Methods MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE, CENTRAL (Cochrane library databases), gray literature, hand-searching, and clinicaltrials.gov were systematically searched. Randomized controlled trials with no language, data, or status restrictions were included, comparing the effectiveness and safety of adding spinal lipophilic opioid to local anesthetics (LAs). Data were pooled using the random-effects models or fixed-effect models based on heterogeneity. Results The initial search retrieved 4469 records; 3241 records were eligible, and 3152 articles were excluded after reading titles and abstracts, with a high agreement rate (98.6%). After reading the full texts, 76 articles remained. Spinal fentanyl and sufentanil significantly reduced postoperative pain and opioid consumption, increased analgesia and pruritus. Fentanyl, but not sufentanil, significantly reduced both postoperative nausea and vomiting, and postoperative shivering; compared to LAs alone. The analyzed studies did not report any case of in-hospital mortality related to spinal lipophilic opioids. The rate of respiratory depression was 0.7% and 0.8% when spinal fentanyl or sufentanil was added and when it was not, respectively. Episodes of respiratory depression were rare, uneventful, occurred intraoperatively, and were easily manageable. Conclusion There is moderate to high quality certainty that there is evidence regarding the safety and effectiveness of adding lipophilic opioids to LAs in spinal anesthesia.

Effect of magnesium sulfate with ketamine infusions on intraoperative and postoperative analgesia in cancer breast surgeries: a randomized double-blind trial

Abstract Background Opioids are the cornerstone in managing postoperative pain; however, they have many side effects. Ketamine and Magnesium (Mg) are NMDA receptor antagonists used as adjuvant analgesics to decrease postoperative opioid consumption. Objective We assumed that adding Mg to ketamine infusion can improve the intraoperative and postoperative analgesic efficacy of ketamine infusion alone in cancer breast surgeries. Methods Ninety patients aged between 18 and 65 years and undergoing elective cancer breast surgery were included in this prospective randomized, double-blind study. Group K received ketamine 0.5 mg.kg-1 bolus then 0.12 mg.kg-1.h-1 infusion for the first 24 hours postoperatively. Group KM: received ketamine 0.5 mg.kg-1 and Mg sulfate 50 mg.kg-1, then ketamine 0.12 mg.kg-1.h-1 and Mg sulfate 8 mg.kg-1.h-1 infusions for the first 24 hours postoperative. The primary outcome was the morphine consumption in the first 24 hours postoperative, while the secondary outcomes were: intraoperative fentanyl consumption, NRS, side effects, and chronic postoperative pain. Results Group KM had less postoperative opioid consumption (14.12 ± 5.11 mg) than Group K (19.43 ± 6.8 mg). Also, Group KM had less intraoperative fentanyl consumption. Both groups were similar in postoperative NRS scores, the incidence of side effects related to opioids, and chronic neuropathic pain. Conclusion Adding Mg to ketamine infusion can safely improve intraoperative and postoperative analgesia with opioid-sparing effect in cancer breast surgery.

Cocaína adulterada con opioides en la provincia de Buenos Aires: análisis epidemiológico para pensar una nueva política de drogas / Cocaine adulterated with opioids in the province of Buenos Aires: epidemiological analysis to think about a New Drug Policy

INTRODUCCIÓN: En febrero de 2022 se produjo en la provincia de Buenos Aires un brote de intoxicación por consumo de cocaína adulterada con opioides. El objetivo de este trabajo fue describir la población afectada, las acciones realizadas desde el Ministerio de Salud de la Provincia de Buenos Aires a partir de la detección de la problemática y analizar las modalidades de abordaje de los consumos respecto de los paradigmas de atención desde la perspectiva de la salud y las normativas vigentes en la temática en Argentina. MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal con enfoque cuantitativo. Se estudió a todas las personas que presentaban síntomas compatibles con cuadros de intoxicación por consumo de cocaína adulterada y que consultaron en establecimientos de salud de la provincia de Buenos Aires en febrero de 2022. RESULTADOS: Se notificaron 124 casos, el rango etario fue de 18 a 57 años, y el 84,5% fueron informados como sexo legal masculino. El 66% requirió internación hospitalaria, y 19 personas fallecieron. Los resultados de laboratorio confirmaron que la sustancia consumida era cocaína con carfentanilo. DISCUSIÓN: La identificación de opioides es un fenómeno novedoso en la región, que invita a problematizar los marcos normativos y los paradigmas de abordaje vigentes para superar visiones que reducen la problemática a los aspectos inherentes a los individuos y sus conductas respecto del consumo de sustancias psicoactivas.

Bilateral versus unilateral erector spinae plane block for postoperative analgesia in laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a randomized controlled study

Abstract Introduction Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the common surgical intervention for benign biliary diseases. Postoperative pain after LC remains as an important problem, with two components: somatic and visceral. Trocar entry incisions lead to somatic pain, while peritoneal distension with diaphragm irritation leads to visceral pain. Following its description by Forero et al., the erector spinae plane (ESP) block acquired considerable popularity among clinicians. This led to the use of ESP block for postoperative pain management for various operations. Materials and methods This study was conducted between January and June 2019. Patients aged between 18 and 65 years with an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I-II, scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were included in the study. All the patients received bilateral or unilateral ESP block at the T8 level preoperatively according to their groups. Results There was no significant difference between the groups in terms NRS scores either at rest or while coughing at any time interval except for postoperative 6th hour (p = 0.023). Morphine consumption was similar between the groups but was significantly lower in group B at 12 and 24 hours (p = 0.044 and p = 0.022, respectively). Twelve patients in group A and three patients in group B had shoulder pain and this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.011). Discussion In conclusion, bilateral ESP block provided more effective analgesia than unilateral ESP block in patients undergoing elective LC. Bilateral ESP block reduced the amount of opioid consumption and the incidence of postoperative shoulder pain.

Regional analgesia and surgical site infections after colorectal surgery: a retrospective cohort analysis

Abstract Background The effect of regional analgesia on perioperative infectious complications remains unknown. We therefore tested the hypothesis that a composite of serious infections after colorectal surgery is less common in patients with regional analgesia than in those given Intravenous Patient-Controlled Analgesia (IV-PCA) with opiates. Methods Patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery lasting one hour or more under general anesthesia at the Cleveland Clinic Main Campus between 2009 and 2015 were included in this retrospective analysis. Exposures were defined as regional postoperative analgesia with epidurals or Transversus Abdominis Plane blocks (TAP); or IV-PCA with opiates only. The outcome was defined as a composite of in-hospital serious infections, including intraabdominal abscess, pelvic abscess, deep or organ-space Surgical Site Infection (SSI), clostridium difficile, pneumonia, or sepsis. Logistic regression model adjusted for the imbalanced potential confounding factors among the subset of matched surgeries was used to report the odds ratios along with 95% confidence limits. The significance criterion was p < 0.05. Results A total of 7811 patients met inclusion and exclusion criteria of which we successfully matched 681 regional anesthesia patients to 2862 IV-PCA only patients based on propensity scores derived from potential confounding factors. There were 82 (12%) in-hospital postoperative serious infections in the regional analgesia group vs. 285 (10%) in IV-PCA patients. Regional analgesia was not significantly associated with serious infection (odds ratio: 1.14; 95% Confidence Interval 0.87‒1.49; p-value = 0.339) after adjusting for surgical duration and volume of intraoperative crystalloids. Conclusion Regional analgesia should not be selected as postoperative analgesic technique to reduce infections.

Inkk Trial - Intraoperative ketamine for perioperative pain management following total knee endoprosthetic replacement in oncology: a double-blinded randomized trial

Abstract Background There has been a growing interest in the use of ketamine following orthopedic surgeries. We hypothesized that low dose intravenous ketamine during surgery would help in mobilization following total knee replacement (TKR) in oncology patients as assessed by the timed to up and go (TUG) test at 72 hours post-surgery. Our secondary objectives were to compare the opioid requirement at the end of 72 hours, pain scores, satisfaction with pain management, adverse effects, range of joint movement achieved in the post-operative period and the functional recovery at the end of 1 month. Methods After the ethics commitee approval, registration of the trial with the Clinical Trial Registry - India (CTRI), and informed consent, this double-blinded trial was conducted. Using computer generated randomization chart, an independent team randomized the patients into ketamine group which received at induction, a ketamine bolus dose of 0.5 mg.kg-1 before the incision followed by 10 µg.kg-1min-1 infusion which was maintained intraoperatively till skin closure and the saline group received an equivalent volume of saline. Postoperatively, patient controlled morphine pumps were attached and the pain score with morphine usage were recorded for 72 hours. The TUG tests and range of motion were assessed by the physiotherapists until 72 hours. Results Fifty-two patients were enrolled in the trial. Demographics were comparable. No significant intraoperative hemodynamic changes and post-operative adverse events were noted between the groups. A decrease in the TUG test, along with decreased opioid usage with a better range of movements was noted in the ketamine group, but this was not statistically significant. Day of discharge, patient satisfaction score, and functional recovery assessed by Oxford Knee Score (OKS) were comparable between the groups. Conclusion In conclusion, low dose intraoperative ketamine infusion does not provide clinical benefit in perioperative pain management and postoperative rehabilitation following total knee endoprosthetic replacement in oncology.

Continuous flow Aza-Michael reaction for preparing the fast-acting synthetic opioid drug Remifentanil

Abstract Remifentanil is a modern fentanyl analogue with ultrashort-action granted by an esterase-labile methyl propanoate chain. Here, we present the development of a continuous flow methodology for the key N-alkylation step of remifentanil preparation in a biphasic, "slug-flow" regime. We screened parameters under microwave-assisted reactions, translated conditions to flow settings, and obtained remifentanil under 15-min residence time in a 1-mL microreactor, with a space-time yield of 89 mg/mL·h and 94% yield.

Inconsistencia científica de los estudios que difunden los efectos paliativos de la marihuana o relativizan sus consecuencias nocivas / Scientific inconsistency of the studies that disseminate the palliative effects of marijuana or downplay its harmful consequences

Los países o territorios que legalizaron la marihuana o consideran hacerlo tienen que prevenir el aumento de las sobredosis por drogas; los resultados que ofrecen las experiencias de Estados Unidos -promocionadas con dudoso respaldo científico- se confirmaron equivocados. Las tendencias de mortalidad por opioides en los Estados Unidos, líder mundial tanto en mortalidad por opioides como en trastorno por consumo de cannabis, no acompaña la hipótesis que propone la disponibilidad de marihuana para reducir la mortalidad por opioides. Durante la última década, las tendencias de mortalidad por opioides del país en las jurisdicciones que legalizan y no legalizan la marihuana, sugieren lo contrario. Las personas de raza negra no hispanas y los hispanos en particular, necesitan ayuda para revertir las tendencias que pudieron facilitarse por la legalización de la marihuana.

Effects of bilateral erector spinae plane block for posterior lumbar spine surgery in elderly patients / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVES@#With the rapid development of aging population, the number of elderly patients undergoing posterior lumbar spine surgery continues to increase. Lumbar spine surgery could cause moderate to severe postoperative pain, and the conventional opioid-based analgesia techniques have many side effects, which are barriers to the recovery after surgery of the elderly. Previous studies have demonstrated that erector spinae plane block (ESPB) could bring about favorable analgesia in spinal surgery. As far as the elderly are concerned, the analgesic and recovery effects of ESPB on posterior lumbar spine surgery are not completely clear. This study aims to observe the effects of bilateral ESPB on elderly patients undergoing posterior lumbar spine surgery, and to improve the anesthesia techniques.@*METHODS@#A total of 70 elderly patients of both sex, who were selected from May 2020 to November 2021, scheduled for elective posterior lumbar spine surgery, and in the age of 60-79 years, with American Society of Anesthesiologists class Ⅱ-Ⅲ, were divided into a ESPB group and a control (C) group using a random number table method, with 35 patients each. Before general anesthesia induction, 20 mL 0.4% ropivacaine was injected to the transverse process of L3 or L4 bilaterally in the ESPB group and only saline in the C group. The score of Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) indicating pain at rest and on movement within 48 h after operation, time of first patient control analgesia (PCA), cumulative consumptions of sufentanil within 48 hours, Leeds Sleep Evaluation Questionnaire (LSEQ) scores on the morning of day 1 and day 2 after operation, Quality of Recovery-15 (QoR-15) scores at 24 and 48 h after operation, full diet intake times, perioperative adverse reactions such as intraoperative hypotension, postoperative dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and constipation were compared between the 2 groups.@*RESULTS@#A total of 70 patients were enrolled and 62 subjects completed the study, including 32 in the ESPB group and 30 in the C group. Compared with the C group, the postoperative NRS scores at rest at 2, 4, 6, and 12 h and on movementat at 2, 4, and 6 h were lower, time of first PCA was later, sufentanil consumptions were significantly decreased during 0-12 h and 12-24 h after operation, LSEQ scores on the morning of day 1 and QoR-15 scores at 24 and 48 h after operation were higher, full diet intakes achieved earlier in the ESPB group (all P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the incidences of intraoperative hypotension, postoperative dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and constipation between the 2 groups (all P>0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Providing favorable analgesic effects with reduced opioids consumption, bilateral ESPB for posterior lumbar spine surgery in the elderly patients could also improve postoperative sleep quality, promote gastrointestinal functional restoration, and enhance recovery with few adverse reactions.