Comparative study between surgical wound catheter, femoral nerve block, and adductor canal block for postoperative analgesia after knee arthroplasty: A double blind randomized clinical trial.

Objectives: The present study compared the surgical wound catheter (SWC), femoral nerve block (FNB), and adductor canal block (ACB) for postoperative analgesia after knee arthroplasty. Methods: The study included (180) patients scheduled for unilateral total knee replacement and were randomly allocated into three groups. Patients received postoperative analgesia via continuous infusion of ropivacaine 0.2% (10 ml bolus followed by continuous infusion of 5 ml/hour) through the SWC, FNB, or ACB groups. All groups received supplemental analgesia by IV morphine using patient controlled analgesia. Pain scores were assessed at rest and during movements, the worst and least pain scores, and how often were in worst pain during the first 72 hours. The functional activity and patient's satisfaction were also recorded. Results: The study showed significant reductions in pain scores at rest and during movements in all groups compared to the baseline scores. Significant reductions in pain scores were observed in both ACB and FNB groups compared to the SWC group (P < 0.05). The worst pain scores were (6.15 ± 2.9, 5.85 ± 2.7, and 5.025 ± 1.513), least pain scores (2.06 ± 0.72, 1.92 ± 1.34 and 1.89 ± 1.76), percentage of time in worst pain (17.67 ± 9.15, 11.42 ± 7.50, and 9.8.8 ± 8.14) and the total morphine consumption (39.24 ± 6.82, 34.55 ± 7.86, and 26.40 ± 8.47 mg) in the SWC, FNB, and ACB groups, respectively. Functional assessments and patient's satisfaction, at 6 and 24 hours, were significantly better in ACB followed by SWC, and lastly FNB group (P < 0.5). No significant differences in the incidence of side effects (P > 0.05). Local anesthetic leak from the SWC was a continuous concern by the orthopedic surgeons. Conclusions: In terms of efficiency, ACB provided the highest quality of analgesia in terms of pain relief, functional activity, and patient's satisfaction. Both ACB and FNB provided higher quality of analgesia compared to the SWC. While ACB and SWC provided better functional improvements compared to FNB.

Effects of intrapartum epidural analgesia at high altitudes: maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes. A randomized controlled trial of two formulations of analgesics.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether intrapartum epidural analgesics (bupivacaine or ropivacaine) have an influence (safety and efficacy) on mothers, fetuses, or newborns at high altitudes (2,200 m above the sea level). DESIGN: Prospective randomized trial. SETTING: A tertiary referral hospital in Aseer region, Saudi Arabia. POPULATION: Eighty parturient women with normal full term pregnancy (37-40 weeks) were randomly allocated to a group receiving epidural bupivacaine 0.125% and the other receiving ropivacaine 0.2%, with fentanyl 100 microg given to both groups. METHODS: Intra- and postpartum clinical management of the pregnant women and newborns and fetal Doppler assessments were performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Severity of pain, onset and duration of analgesia, and occurrence of motor blockade were primary outcomes. Progress of labor, need for oxytocin augmentation, mode of delivery, and neonatal condition were secondary outcomes. RESULTS: Demographic, labor characteristics, and neonatal outcomes of the two groups were comparable. The onset of analgesia was relatively more rapid for ropivacaine group (p = 0.067). Duration of analgesia after the first bolus dose was longer and the need for supplemental epidural analgesic doses was lesser in the bupivacaine group (p = 0.041 and 0.045, respectively). In both groups, the fetal umbilical and middle cerebral artery pulsatility indices showed significant change when compared to the baseline of the same group. CONCLUSION: At high altitudes, no major advantage was found for epidural ropivacaine over bupivacaine in addition to fentanyl for labor analgesia and no harmful effects of the medications were found on mothers, fetuses, or newborns.

Effect of fluid preloading on postoperative nausea and vomiting following laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common complication following general anesthesia. Different regimens have been described for the treatment of PONV with few that mention the prevention of it. Therefore, we conducted this study to compare the effect of preloading with either crystalloids or colloids on the incidence of PONV following laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), under general anesthesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was carried out on 80 patients who underwent LC. The patients were divided into four groups (each 20 patients), to receive preloading of intravenous fluid, as follows: Group 1 received, 10 ml/kg of low-MW tetrastarch in saline (Voluven), group 2 received, 10 ml/kg medium-MW pentastarch in saline (Pentaspan), group 3, received 10 ml/kg of high-MW heta-starch in saline (Hespan), and group 4, received 10 ml/kg Lactated Ringer's, and this was considered as the control group. All patients received the standard anesthetic technique. The incidence of PONV was recorded, two and 24 hours following surgery. The need for antiemetics and/or analgesics was recorded postoperatively. RESULTS: The highest incidence of PONV was in group 3 (75% of the patients) compared to the other three groups. Also the same trend was found with regard to the number of patients who needed antiemetic therapy. It was the highest incidence in group 3 (70%), followed by group 2 (60%), and then group 1(35%), and the least one was in the control group (25%). CONCLUSION: Intravascular volume deficits may be a factor in PONV and preloading with crystalloids showed a lower incidence of PONV.

Fetal responses to epidural analgesia as evidenced by Doppler indices.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to evaluate the maternal effects ofepidural analgesia by different local anesthetics and their impact on placental and fetal blood flow. METHODS: Depending on the type of local anesthetics used, sixty full-term parturients were randomly allocated into 3 equal groups in a randomized blind study; Group (1) received Bupivacaine (0.125%), Group (2) received Ropivacaine (0.2%) and, Group (3) received Levobupivacaine (0.125%). Epidural fentanyl (100 microg) was added to all groups. Safety was assessed by recording the mothers' characters and vital signs as well as the fetal Doppler indices while efficacy was assessed by measuring severity of pain, onset and duration of analgesia, and the motor blockade. Doppler velocimetry studies for fetus included monitoring of Umbilical Artery Pulsitility Indices (UAPI) and Middle Cerebral Artery Pulsitility Indices (MCAPI). RESULTS: Parturient in all groups were comparable. Pulse rate and arterial blood pressure were significantly decreased in all groups after analgesia, but remained within normal ranges. The pain score, had significant reduction in all groups with best results observed in Group 3. The onset of analgesia was relatively rapid in Group 2 followed by Group 3 then Group 1. The duration of analgesia was prolonged in Group 1 followed by Group 3 and then Group 2. There was no incidence of motor block except in 5 parturient (20%) in Group 1. UAPI was significantly decreased in the three studied groups after epidural analgesia. But, during uterine contraction, there was slight elevation in the UAPI in all groups. The best improvement in placental perfusion was observed in Group 3, then Group 1, and the least was Group 2. On the other hand, MCAPI was significantly increased in al groups after epidural analgesia. But, during uterine contraction, there was slight decrease in the MCAPI in the three groups. The best improvement in MCAPI was observed in Group 3, then Group 1, and the least was Group 2. CONCLUSION: All local anesthetics produced excellent analgesia during labor. The Doppler indices were improved in the three groups with the best results in levobupivacaine group.

The effects of pneumoperitoneum on respiratory mechanics during general anesthesia for bariatric surgery.

BACKGROUND: The effects of pneumoperitoneum (PPM) on respiratory mechanics during bariatric surgery were investigated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 10 patients with BMI 50.5+/-8 kg/m(2) (range 40.9- 66.8) who underwent laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding with the Swedish band under general anesthesia were studied. Besides routine monitoring of vital signs and lung volumes, respiratory mechanics (compliance and resistance) were measured during positive pressure ventilation using an anesthesia delivery unit (Datex Ohmeda type A_Elec). Data were recorded at the following stages: 1). before PPM, 2). during PPM, and 3). after gas deflation. One-way analysis of variance was used for analysis of data. P <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The airway, peak inspiratory and plateau pressures increased significantly during PPM. Dynamic lung compliances were 44.6+/-7.8 SD, 31.8+/-5.5 and 44.5+/-8.3 cm/H(2)O before, during and after PPM respectively with significant differences (P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although significant decrease in lung mechanics was found in the present study,these variations were well tolerated in morbidly obese patients with PPM pressure of 15 mmHg.