Role of adjuvants in regional anesthesia: A systematic review.

The combination of drugs and routes of administration produces a synergistic effect, and one of the most important components of multimodal analgesic strategies are, therefore, nerve blocks for pain management. The effect of a local anaesthetic can be prolonged by administering an adjuvant. In this systematic review, we included studies on adjuvants associated with local anaesthetics in peripheral nerve blocks published in the last 5 years in order to evaluate their effectiveness. The results were reported according to the PRISMA guidelines. The 79 studies selected using our criteria showed a clear prevalence of dexamethasone (n=24) and dexmedetomidine (n=33) over other adjuvants. Different meta-analyses comparing adjuvants suggest that dexamethasone administered perineurally achieves superior blockade with fewer side effects than dexmedetomidine. Based on the studies reviewed, we found moderate evidence to recommend the use of dexamethasone as an adjuvant to peripheral regional anaesthesia in surgeries that can cause moderate to severe pain.

Papel de los coadyuvantes en la anestesia regional: revisión sistemática / Role of adjuvants in regional anesthesia: a systematic review

La combinación de fármacos y vías de administración consigue un efecto sinérgico, por eso las estrategias analgésicas multimodales incorporan bloqueos periféricos como componente imprescindible para un buen control del dolor. La asociación de un coadyuvante al anestésico local prolongaría su efecto. Esta revisión sistemática ha incluido estudios sobre coadyuvantes asociados a anestésicos locales en bloqueos periféricos publicados en los últimos cinco años. El objetivo principal ha sido evaluar su eficacia. Los resultados de la búsqueda se informaron de acuerdo con los elementos PRISMA. Los 79 artículos seleccionados según criterios, mostraron una clara prevalencia de dexametasona (n=24) y dexmedetomidina (n=33) sobre los demás coadyuvantes. Diferentes metaanálisis que comparan a los coadyuvantes sugieren un bloqueo de características superiores y menores efectos adversos con dexametasona vs. dexmedetomidina perineuralmente. Con base en los estudios, encontramos una evidencia moderada en el empleo de dexametasona como coadyuvante de la anestesia regional periférica en cirugías que generen dolor moderado- severo, lo que haría recomendable su empleo.(AU)

The combination of drugs and routes of administration produces a synergistic effect, and one of the most important components of multimodal analgesic strategies are, therefore, nerve blocks for pain management. The effect of a local anaesthetic can be prolonged by administering an adjuvant. In this systematic review, we included studies on adjuvants associated with local anaesthetics in peripheral nerve blocks published in the last 5 years in order to evaluate their effectiveness. The results were reported according to the PRISMA guidelines. The 79 studies selected using our criteria showed a clear prevalence of dexamethasone (n=24) and dexmedetomidine (n=33) over other adjuvants. Different meta-analyses comparing adjuvants suggest that dexamethasone administered perineurally achieves superior blockade with fewer side effects than dexmedetomidine. Based on the studies reviewed, we found moderate evidence to recommend the use of dexamethasone as an adjuvant to peripheral regional anaesthesia in surgeries that can cause moderate to severe pain.(AU)

Quadratus lumborum block. New approach for a chronic hip pain. Cases report. / Bloqueo del cuadrado lumbar: nueva vía de abordaje para el dolor crónico de cadera. Serie de casos.

Hip arthrosis is a frequent and difficult to manage disease. The generated pain supposes a great impact in the quality life of the patient. The goal of the treatment should be to reduce pain and to improve function. Based on the complex innervation of the hip, the minimally invasive thecniques have been increasing. In this context, we present the results obtained in four patients with a hip chronic pain due to arthrosis, to whom we performed a quadratus lumborum block type 2 (QL2) with levobupivacaine plus dexametasone as therapeutic option. The results have shown a significant decrease of the intensity of pain (NRS) for more than 6 months.

Serratus-intercostal interfascial block as an opioid-saving strategy in supra-umbilical open surgery. / Bloqueo interfascial serrato-intercostal como estrategia ahorradora de opioides en cirugía supraumbilical abierta.

INTRODUCTION: The administration of local anaesthetic in the serratus-intercostal space provides adequate analgesia in non-reconstructive breast surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the blockage of the last intercostal nerves (T7-T11) can lead to opioid savings in supra-umbilical open surgery procedures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted on patients undergoing open supra-umbilical surgery under general anaesthesia and with a serratus-intercostal plane block [modified Blocking the bRanches of IntercostaL nerves in the Middle Axillary line (BRILMA)] as an associated analgesic strategy. Post-operative pain was assessed with the numerical verbal scale (NVS 0 to 10) on admission to the post-anAesthesia recovery unit, at 6, 12, 24, and 48h postintervention and by need for analgesic rescues with opioids (2mg iv of morphine, if values higher than 3 in NVS). Adverse events related to the technique were also recorded. The statistical package used in the analysis of the data was SPSS® for Windows. RESULTS: The study recruited 52 patients. Differences, with a p<.05, were found intra-operatively in the consumption of fentanyl: 400 + 80µg versus 110 + 50µg in patients who underwent pre-incisional blockade. In the first 24hours, only 3 cases (two gastrectomies and one cholecystectomy) required morphine (single bolus of 2mg). Between 24h and 48h it was necessary to administer several morphine boluses (8 + 2mg) in four patients (three gastrectomies and one cholecystectomy). Four patients presented with nausea and / or vomiting and there were no complications related to the analgesic technique. CONCLUSION: The intercostal nerves block (T7-T11) in the serratus-intercostal space may constitute an opioid-sparing analgesic strategy in open supra-umbilical surgery.

Sevoflurane anaesthesia for nasal surgery in a patient with multiple chemical sensitivity. / Anestesia con sevoflurano para cirugía de senos paranasales en un paciente con sensibilidad química múltiple.

Multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome is a group of complex disorders that include psychiatric disorders, chronic fatigue and/or respiratory problems. This syndrome could be triggered by specific allergens and toxins that cause neurophysiological sensitization and the appearance of the clinical symptomatology. Anaesthesia for these patients always poses a challenge for the anaesthetist, because they need to find and use drugs that do not trigger or aggravate the symptoms of the disease. Therefore, sevoflurane in these circumstances might be "the ideal anaesthetic". Performing general anaesthesia with sevoflurane as the sole anaesthetic agent, together with a series of environmental measures formed the basis for successful anaesthesia and surgery in our patient with a multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome.

Pitfalls y variantes del tórax pediátrico / Pitfalls and variants in pediatric chest imaging

La mayoría de los pitfalls en la interpretación del tórax pediátrico están estrechamente relacionados con la técnica empleada y las características del paciente pediátrico. El empleo de una técnica adecuada es muy importante para obtener una imagen radiológica de calidad que permita un buen diagnóstico. Es importante conocer bien cómo influyen los factores técnicos en la imagen, así como los posibles artefactos que se pueden obtener debido a la escasa colaboración del paciente pediátrico. Además el radiólogo debe estar familiarizado con la anatomía normal del niño, los hallazgos radiológicos clásicos y variantes anatómicas y del desarrollo, para no malinterpretar como patológicos hallazgos normales (AU)

Most pitfalls in the interpretation of pediatric chest imaging are closely related with the technique used and the characteristics of pediatric patients. To obtain a quality image that will enable the correct diagnosis, it is very important to use an appropriate technique. It is important to know how technical factors influence the image and to be aware of the possible artifacts that can result from poor patient cooperation. Moreover, radiologists need to be familiar with the normal anatomy in children, with the classic radiologic findings, and with the anatomic and developmental variants to avoid misinterpreting normal findings as pathological (AU)

Pitfalls and variants in pediatric chest imaging. / Pitfalls y variantes del tórax pediátrico.

Most pitfalls in the interpretation of pediatric chest imaging are closely related with the technique used and the characteristics of pediatric patients. To obtain a quality image that will enable the correct diagnosis, it is very important to use an appropriate technique. It is important to know how technical factors influence the image and to be aware of the possible artifacts that can result from poor patient cooperation. Moreover, radiologists need to be familiar with the normal anatomy in children, with the classic radiologic findings, and with the anatomic and developmental variants to avoid misinterpreting normal findings as pathological.

Síndrome de Zinner diagnosticado en edad pediátrica / Zinner syndrome diagnosed in a child

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[Ultrasound-guided cutaneous intercostal branches nerves block: A good analgesic alternative for gallbladder open surgery]. / Bloqueo fascial ecoguiado de las ramas cutáneas de los nervios intercostales: una buena alternativa analgésica para la cirugía abierta de vesícula biliar.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has become the standard treatment for gallbladder diseases. However, there are still some patients for whom conversion to open surgery is required. This surgery can produce significant post-operative pain. Opioids drugs have traditionally been used to treat this pain, but side effects have led to seeking alternatives (plexus, nerve or fascia blocks or wound). The cases are presented of 4 patients subjected to ultrasound-guided intercostal branches blocks in the mid-axillary line from T6 to T12 with levobupivacaine as an analgesic alternative in open surgery of gallbladder, with satisfactory results.

Xantogranulomatous Pyelonephritis in children.

OBJECTIVE: Xanthogranulomatous Pyelonephritis (XP) is a renal chronic inflammatory disease infrequent during childhood produced by the association of long-term urinary tract obstruction with chronic infection. We report the cases of two children diagnosed of XP. METHODS: One of them consulted for cloudy urine. Hypergammaglobulinemia with the presence of a homogeneous band in the gamma fraction of the proteinogram stood out among laboratory findings. The other case was diagnosed while performing a urologic ultrasound in the follow up of kidney stone disease. In the latter, the renal inflammation was adhered to the perirenal capsule, colonic splenic flexure and descending colon. Both presented mild proteinuria and hematuria. None of them showed clinical sings of affectation of the general status and their renal function laboratory data as well as the infection markers were normal. RESULTS: All the alterations disappeared after performing a nephrectomy of the affected kidney. CONCLUSIONS: We present two cases of XP in a group of age rarely affected by this disease that also showed an uncommon presentation for their age. A high rate of suspicion must be held to diagnose and correctly treat this disease because the grade of renal and extra renal damage is closely related with the extension and duration of the disease.

Pielonefritis xantogranulomatosa en niños / Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis in children

OBJETIVO: La pielonefritis xantogranulomatosa (PX) es una enfermedad inflamatoria renal crónica poco frecuente en la población infantil que se produce por la asociación de una obstrucción del tracto urinario de larga evolución e infección crónica. Se muestran dos casos pediátricos diagnosticados de PX. MÉTODO: Uno de ellos consultó por orinas turbias. Entre los datos bioquímicos destacaba una hipergammaglobulinemia con la presencia de una banda homogénea en la fracción gamma en el proteinograma. El otro caso se detectó en una ecografía urológica efectuada durante el seguimiento de una enfermedad litiásica renal. En este paciente, encontramos que el riñón destruido por el proceso inflamatorio, estaba adherido a capsula perirrenal, ángulo esplénico del colon y colon descendente. En ambos había leucocituria y proteinuria leve-moderada. Ninguno de los niños mostraba signos clínicos de afectación del estado general y los datos analíticos de valoración de la función renal así como los indicadores de infección eran normales. RESULTADO: Todas estas anomalías desaparecieron después de la nefrectomía del riñón afectado. CONCLUSIONES: Presentamos dos casos clínicos de PX en un grupo de edad poco afectado por esta entidad con una forma de presentación inusual. Debe mantenerse un alto índice de sospecha de la misma para diagnosticarla y tratarla oportunamente, ya que el nivel de afectación renal y extrarrenal es proporcional a la extensión y duración de la enfermedad

OBJECTIVE: Xanthogranulomatous Pyelonephritis (XP) is a renal chronic inflammatory disease infrequent during childhood produced by the association of long-term urinary tract obstruction with chronic infection. We report the cases of two children diagnosed of XP. METHODS: One of them consulted for cloudy urine. Hypergammaglobulinemia with the presence of a homogeneous band in the gamma fraction of the proteinogram stood out among laboratory findings. The other case was diagnosed while performing a urologic ultrasound in the follow up of kidney stone disease. In the latter, the renal inflammation was adhered to the perirenal capsule, colonic splenic flexure and descending colon. Both presented mild proteinuria and hematuria. None of them showed clinical sings of affectation of the general status and their renal function laboratory data as well as the infection markers were normal. RESULTS: All the alterations disappeared after performing a nephrectomy of the affected kidney. CONCLUSIONS: We present two cases of XP in a group of age rarely affected by this disease that also showed an uncommon presentation for their age. A high rate of suspicion must be held to diagnose and correctly treat this disease because the grade of renal and extra renal damage is closely related with the extension and duration of the disease

Chances of cure are not compromised with sphincter-saving procedures for cancer of the lower third of the rectum.

BACKGROUND: The goal of this study was to compare patterns of recurrence and long-term outcome after sphincter-saving procedures (SSPs) and abdominoperineal resection (APR) in patients with tumors located in the lower third of the rectum. METHODS: We reviewed the charts of 1001 patients operated on for primary rectal adenocarcinoma between 1980 and 1991. All patients with tumors located between 5 and 7 cm from the anal verge and treated with curative intent were included. RESULTS: Of the 261 patients who met our criteria, 162 had undergone SSP and 99 had undergone APR. The local recurrence rates for SSP and APR were 8% and 11%, respectively (p = 0.41), and the distant metastases rates were 23% and 28%, respectively (p = 0.35). Recurrence and distant metastases rates for SSP and APR, respectively, did not differ by TNM classification: state I, 10% versus 9% (p = 0.9); stage II, 25% versus 43% (p = 0.13); and stage III, 56% versus 57% (p = 0.92). Five-year disease-free survival rates for SSP and APR patients were 70.5% and 62.3%, respectively (p = 0.2). CONCLUSIONS: Tumors in the lower third of the rectum can be treated with sphincter-saving procedures without compromising the chance of cure.

[A cost analysis of laparoscopic cholecystectomy compared with the open technic]. / Análisis de costes de la colecistectomía laparoscópica en comparación con la abierta.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the cost of laparoscopic cholecystectomy with that of open cholecystectomy. DESIGN: We analyzed the cost of both procedures regarding hospital stay, days of work lost and the cost derived from the morbidity of the complications of each technique in two groups of patients. With these data we were able to calculate direct and indirect costs of both procedures and compare them. RESULTS: Morbidity was similar in both groups and had no influence in the cost; cost of the material used for laparoscopic cholecystectomy was higher; hospital stay and days of lost work were significantly lower for the laparoscopic procedure than for the open one. The total cost of laparoscopic cholecystectomy was 23% cheaper than that of open cholecystectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy appears to be cheaper than open cholecystectomy. As the laparoscopic technique becomes more widespread its cost might decrease even further.

[Tonsillar microsurgery by bipolar dissection]. / Microcirugía amigdalar con disección bipolar.

The 66 amygdalectomies done by the AA. under general anesthesia and tracheal intubation are considered in two groups. The first one was composed by 32 patients operated following a dissection and coagulation procedure with the aid of a bipolar forceps and under microscopical magnification. The second group, 34 cases, underwent the classical procedure with ligature of the bleeding vessels. The usage of the bipolar forceps procure lesser loss of blood as compared with the dissection-ligature procedure. On the contrary, the bipolar clip method showed and increased postoperative pain and also the lagging of the swallow function. Both techniques presented with very similar complications (bleeding, edema, loca infection).