Perioperative pain perception in patients undergoing dermatologic surgery with local anesthesia - A prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Dermatosurgical procedures are predominantly performed under local anesthesia, yet there are few studies on perioperative pain management for extensive or staged procedures under local anesthesia. The purpose of this study was to assess pain during dermatologic surgery, describe perioperative pain management, and identify factors that influence pain perception. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective, monocentric study included inpatients undergoing dermatologic surgery under local anesthesia from April to December 2021. Preoperative demographic data, a pain questionnaire, and four psychometric questionnaires (PCS, LOT-R, SFQ, PHQ-9) were collected. Postoperative pain and analgesic use during the first 24 hours were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 120 patients (with a total of 191 interventions) were included in the study. Mean postoperative pain was reported to be very low (NRS < 2). Preoperative pain and expected postoperative pain were found to be predictive of postoperative pain. There was a strong correlation between catastrophizing and preoperative anxiety (r = 0.65) and a moderate correlation between depression and preoperative anxiety (r = 0.46). CONCLUSIONS: Dermatologic surgery under local anesthesia is generally considered painless. During preoperative counseling and assessment, attention should be paid to patients who fear surgery, report pain, or anticipate postoperative pain, as they have an increased risk of experiencing postoperative pain.

A Comparative Analysis of the Efficacy of Local Anesthetics and Systemic Anesthetics in the Red-Headed Versus Non-Red-Headed Patient Population: A Comprehensive Review.

Researchers have found that individuals with red hair often require higher doses of anesthetic medications to achieve the same level of pain relief or sedation compared to people with other hair colors. This review investigates the effects of local and systemic anesthetics in individuals with red hair compared to the general population. Focusing on both local and systemic anesthesia, this research aims to elucidate any distinctive responses or complications among the red-haired demographic. Utilizing a systematic review approach, we analyzed a wide array of previous research papers published over the last two decades to gather relevant data. Our findings suggest that people with red hair may exhibit variations in their response to both local and systemic anesthesia compared to non-red-haired individuals, indicating the necessity for tailored anesthetic approaches in clinical settings. Previous studies have found that individuals with red hair, as well as those with the corresponding melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) mutations, exhibit a greater resistance to the effects of systemic and local anesthetics. This review provides valuable insights that could help healthcare professionals optimize anesthetic management and improve patient outcomes, particularly for those with red hair.

Local Anesthetic Infiltration for Pain Control in Aesthetic Breast Reduction Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND: Aesthetic breast surgeries, including breast reduction, are commonly performed surgical procedures associated with postoperative pain. Pain control is essential to patient comfort, satisfaction, and early recovery. This systematic review is the first to conduct both qualitative and quantitative analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of local anesthetic infiltration in reducing pain after breast reduction surgeries. METHODS: This systematic review is registered in PROSPERO, assessed for bias using the RoB2 tool, and follows the PRISMA guidelines. A full electronic search was performed in different databases for all clinical papers on adult female patients undergoing cosmetic breast reduction surgery who were given local anesthetic infiltration for postoperative pain relief. RESULTS: A systematic review of five randomized clinical trials with a total of 191 patients found that local anesthetic infiltration significantly reduces postoperative pain in breast reduction surgery, reduces opioid consumption, and improves patient outcomes. A meta-analysis of two trials reported the mean VAS score for postoperative pain in the local anesthetic and placebo groups. CONCLUSION: A systematic review and a meta-analysis show a significant reduction in postoperative pain following local anesthetic infiltration, but further research is needed to understand its effectiveness and potential adverse effects. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE I: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Endoscopic Evacuation of Acute Subdural Hematomas: A New Selection Criterion.

Introduction Acute subdural hematomas (ASDHs) have a high mortality rate and unfavorable outcomes especially in the elderly population even after surgery is performed. The conventional recommended surgeries by the Brain Trauma Foundation in 2006 were craniotomies or craniectomies for ASDH. As the world population ages, and endoscopic techniques improve, endoscopic surgery should be utilized to improve the outcomes in elderly patients with ASDH. Materials and Methods This was a single-center retrospective report on our series of six patients that underwent endoscopic ASDH evacuation (EASE). Demographic data, the contralateral global cortical atrophy (GCA) score, evacuation rates, and outcomes were analyzed. Results All patients' symptoms and Glasgow Coma Scale improved or were similar after EASE with no complications. Good outcome was seen in 4 (66.7%) patients. Patients with poor outcome had initial low Glasgow Coma Scale scores on admission. The higher the contralateral GCA score, the higher the evacuation rate ( r = 0.825, p ≤ 0.043). All the patients had a GCA score of ≥7. Conclusion EASE is at least not inferior to craniotomy for the elderly population in terms of functional outcome for now. Using the contralateral GCA score may help identify suitable patients for this technique instead of just using a cut-off age as a criteria.

A randomized controlled trial to assess parental satisfaction with computerized intraosseous anesthesia versus inferior alveolar nerve block in children.

This study aimed to compare parental satisfaction between two pediatric dental anesthesia techniques, computerized intraosseous anesthesia (CIA) and inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB). This study was designed as a split-mouth randomized controlled clinical trial. A total of 52 parents of children undergoing dental treatment were enrolled in the study. Each participant received both CIA and IANB anesthesia, with the order of administration randomized. Parental satisfaction was evaluated using the parental satisfaction of dental local anesthetic techniques scale (PSLAS). Statistical analysis revealed that parental satisfaction regarding CIA was higher than that for IANB with a significant difference (P ˂ 0.05). However, there was no difference regarding the age, gender or the education level of the parents. (P > 0.05). This study provides insights into parental satisfaction with pediatric dental anesthesia techniques and highlights the influence of socioeconomic factors on anesthesia decision-making. Within the limitations of this trial, it was concluded that CIA was significantly superior to IANB in overall parental satisfaction. However, parental satisfaction values were lower in CIA group regarding costs and concern from complications. In addition, it was concluded that there was no difference in satisfaction levels regarding the gender, age and education level of the parents.

EVALUATION OF INTRAOPERATIVE PAIN OCCURRENCE AND NEED FOR SUPPLEMENTAL ANESTHESIA DURING EMERGENCY DENTAL CARE

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the intraoperative pain (IOP) occurrence in situations of symptomatic irreversible pulpitis (SIP) and symptomatic apical periodontitis (SAP). Materials and Methods: Patients who sought emergency care presenting a diagnosis of SIP or SAP were included. IOP was measured with a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) after five minutes of local anesthesia, during access to the pulp chamber, root canal exploration and at the end of procedures. In cases where pain was reported during treatment, supplementary anesthesia was performed. Pain scores were recorded and analyzed using a generalized estimating equation model with posthoc comparisons. Results: 56 patients were included. 35 had a diagnosis of SIP; and 21 a diagnosis of SAP. Mean preoperative pain scores for SAP and SIP were 6.69 (±1.54) and 6.39 (±1.48), respectively (p>0.05). In patients with SIP, significant differences were observed between: preoperative scores and other time points; scores after five minutes of local anesthesia and other time points; scores during pulp chamber access and at the end of procedures; and scores during root canal exploration and at the end of procedures (p<0.05). In patients with SAP, significant differences were observed between preoperative pain scores with all other time points (p<0.05). Chi-square test indicated an association between diagnosis and the need for supplementary anesthesia (p<0.05). Conclusions: In conclusion, there is a strong relationship between reduction of moderate/severe pain after application of local anesthesia. The need for supplemental anesthesia is significantly associated to the diagnosis of symptomatic irreversible pulpitis.

Comparative Study of Acute Stress in Infants Undergoing Percutaneous Achilles Tenotomy for Clubfoot vs. Peripheral Line Placement.

INTRODUCTION: Percutaneous tenotomy of the Achilles tendon is a procedure that is part of the Ponseti method for clubfoot correction. The need to apply general anesthesia or sedation for this procedure is controversial. The objective of this study is to compare the acute stress generated in infants by percutaneous Achilles tenotomy under local anesthesia vs. peripheral line placement. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study compares the discomfort experienced by 85 infants undergoing percutaneous Achilles tenotomy with local anesthesia with that experienced by 39 infants undergoing peripheral line placement. The following parameters were determined: the duration of the procedure, crying time, average crying intensity, and maximum crying intensity. Other data recorded included the infant's age and complications arising during the procedure. RESULTS: The mean ages of these patients were 1.95 and 2.18 months, respectively. The following data were obtained: the mean duration of the procedure for Group A was 8.13 s and for Group B it was 127.43 s; the mean duration of crying for Group A was 84.24 s and for Group B it was 195.82 s; the mean intensity of crying for Group A was 88.99 dB and for Group B it was 100.98 dB; and the maximum crying intensity for Group A was 96.56 dB and for Group B it was 107.76 dB. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous Achilles tenotomy can be safely performed as an outpatient procedure, under local anesthesia. This method generates less discomfort than peripheral line placement.

Impact of proficiency in the transcatheter aortic valve implantation procedure on clinical outcomes: a single center retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: We used transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedure time to investigate the association between surgical team maturity and outcome. METHODS: Among patients who underwent TAVI between October 2015 and November 2019, those who had Sapien™ implanted with the transfemoral artery approach were included in the analysis. We used TAVI procedure time and surgery number to draw a learning curve. Then, we divided the patients into two groups before and after the number of cases where the sigmoid curve reaches a plateau. We compared the two groups regarding the surveyed factors and investigated the correlation between the TAVI procedure time and survey factors. RESULTS: Ninety-nine of 149 patients were analysed. The sigmoid curve had an inflection point in 23.2 cases and reached a plateau in 43.0 cases. Patients in the Late group had a shorter operating time, less contrast media, less radiation exposure, and less myocardial escape enzymes than the Early group. Surgical procedure time showed the strongest correlation with the surgical case number. CONCLUSION: The number of cases required for surgeon proficiency for isolated Sapien™ valve implantation was 43. This number may serve as a guideline for switching the anesthesia management of TAVI from general to local anesthesia.

The use of laser photobiomodulation as pre-anesthetic tissue management technique in reducing injection pain in children.

BACKGROUND: One of the main goals for pediatric dentists is to offer a painless anesthesia experience. Laser photobiomodulation is among the suggested strategies to decrease injection pain. So, this study aimed to assess the impact of laser photobiomodulation on local anesthesia (LA) injection pain in children and its effect on the efficacy of LA during pulpotomy and SSC procedures. METHODS: The research was carried out as a randomized controlled clinical trial with two parallel group design. It involved 64 cooperative healthy children, age range from 5 to 7 years, each having at least one maxillary molar indicated for pulpotomy. Children were randomly allocated to one of the two groups based on the pre-anesthetic tissue management technique used: test group received laser photobiomodulation, while control group received topical anesthetic gel. Pain during injection, pulpotomy, and SSC procedures was assessed using physiological measures (Heart Rate (HR)), subjective evaluation (modified Face-Pain-Scale (FPS), and objective analysis (Sound-Eye-Motor scale (SEM)). RESULTS: A total of 64 children with mean age 6.23 ± 0.78 participated in this research. The mean HR scores were significantly lower in the laser PBM group during buccal and palatal infiltration injections. The SEM mean scores were significantly lower in the laser PBM group during both injections. For the FPS scale, the number of children who recorded satisfaction during injection was significantly higher in laser PBM group. There was no statistically significant difference in mean HR as well as in SEM and FPS scores between the two groups during pulpotomy and SSC procedures. Comparisons between the two study groups were performed using independent samples t- and Mann-Whitney U tests. Significance was set at p value < 0.05. CONCLUSION: Laser photobiomodulation is a promising non-pharmacological pre-anesthetic tissue management technique in children that offered less painful injection compared to topical anesthetic gel without compromising the effectiveness of LA. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05861154. Registered on 16/5/2023.

Polymeric Prodrugs using Dynamic Covalent Chemistry for Prolonged Local Anesthesia.

Depot-type drug delivery systems are designed to deliver drugs at an effective rate over an extended period. Minimizing initial "burst" can also be important, especially with drugs causing systemic toxicity. Both goals are challenging with small hydrophilic molecules. The delivery of molecules such as the ultrapotent local anesthetic tetrodotoxin (TTX) exemplifies both challenges. Toxicity can be mitigated by conjugating TTX to polymers with ester bonds, but the slow ester hydrolysis can result in subtherapeutic TTX release. Here, we developed a prodrug strategy, based on dynamic covalent chemistry utilizing a reversible reaction between the diol TTX and phenylboronic acids. These polymeric prodrugs exhibited TTX encapsulation efficiencies exceeding 90 % and the resulting polymeric nanoparticles showed a range of TTX release rates. In vivo injection of the TTX polymeric prodrugs at the sciatic nerve reduced TTX systemic toxicity and produced nerve block lasting 9.7±2.0 h, in comparison to 1.6±0.6 h from free TTX. This approach could also be used to co-deliver the diol dexamethasone, which prolonged nerve block to 21.8±5.1 h. This work emphasized the usefulness of dynamic covalent chemistry for depot-type drug delivery systems with slow and effective drug release kinetics.

Trans rectus sheath extra-peritoneal procedure (TREPP) for inguinal hernia repair under local anesthesia with sedation in the outpatient clinic: a feasibility study.

BACKGROUND: The Trans Rectus Sheath Extra-Peritoneal Procedure (TREPP) is an open procedure in which the mesh is placed in the preperitoneal space and is therefore associated with less chronic post-operative inguinal pain. TREPP is primarily performed under general or spinal anesthesia, however, it is also possible to perform under sedation and local anesthesia with potentially advantages. This retrospective feasibility pilot study investigates the safety and efficiency of TREPP under local anesthesia in the outpatient clinic in comparison with Lichtenstein. METHODS: Between 2019 and 2022, all patients who underwent an elective inguinal hernia repair under local anesthesia in the outpatient clinic operation theatre were assessed. 34 patients in the TREPP group and 213 patients in the Lichtenstein group were included. Outcomes were complications, operating time, theatre time, and early inguinal hernia recurrence within 8 weeks and 6 months post-operatively. RESULTS: No significant differences in complications such as wound infection, hematoma, seroma, urine retention and early recurrence between TREPP and Lichtenstein were found. Post-operative pain at 8 weeks was not significantly higher after Lichtenstein (8.8% vs. 18.8%, P = 0.22). Operating time (21.0 (IQR: 16.0-27.3) minutes vs. 39.0 (IQR: 31.5-45.0) minutes, P < 0.001) and theatre time (37.5 (IQR: 30.8-42.5) minutes vs. 54.0 (IQR: 46.0-62.0) minutes, P < 0.001) was significantly shorter for TREPP. CONCLUSION: This pilot study showed that TREPP appears to be feasible to perform safely under local anesthesia with comparable complication rates and substantially shorter operation time than Lichtenstein. These results justify further research with a larger study population and a longer period of follow up in order to provide firm conclusions.

The Pterygomandibular Space: A Volumetric Evaluation Using the Novel A-Silicone Injections Method.

Inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) is one of the most common procedures in operative dentistry, and a deep understanding of the normal anatomical variation of the pterygomandibular space (PM) is essential for its safe and successful administration. This cadaveric anatomical study aimed to use A-silicone injections to evaluate the volume of the PM. This study was conducted using 46 human cadaver heads (25 males and 21 females). A craniometric analysis was performed using the cadavers' ages, the number of silicone cartridges (carpules) used to fill the pterygomandibular space, Izard's Facial Index (FI), and the Cranial Index (CI). A Halstead mandibular block was performed by injecting 1.7 mL A-silicone cartridges (as an equivalent to standard local aesthetic carpules volume) into the PM. The cured silicone was extracted from the dissected mandibles. The volume (length, width, and thickness) of the extracted silicone and the number of silicone cartridges used to fill the space were evaluated. The results showed that there are statistically significant positive correlations between the CI and the width of the right PM, as well as the width and length of the left PM. A statistically significant correlation was found between the width of the left PM and the age of the cadaveric heads; the higher the age, the thicker the space on both sides. The volume of the PM corresponded to 1.5 cartridges on average.

Loco-Regional Anesthesia for Pain Management in Robotic Thoracic Surgery.

Robotic thoracic surgery is a prominent minimally invasive approach for the treatment of various thoracic diseases. While this technique offers numerous benefits including reduced blood loss, shorter hospital stays, and less postoperative pain, effective pain management remains crucial to enhance recovery and minimize complications. This review focuses on the application of various loco-regional anesthesia techniques in robotic thoracic surgery, particularly emphasizing their role in pain management. Techniques such as local infiltration anesthesia (LIA), thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA), paravertebral block (PVB), intercostal nerve block (INB), and erector spinae plane block (ESPB) are explored in detail regarding their methodologies, benefits, and potential limitations. The review also discusses the imperative of integrating these anesthesia methods with robotic surgery to optimize patient outcomes. The findings suggest that while each technique has unique advantages, the choice of anesthesia should be tailored to the patient's clinical status, the complexity of the surgery, and the specific requirements of robotic thoracic procedures. The review concludes that a multimodal analgesia strategy, potentially incorporating several of these techniques, may offer the most effective approach for managing perioperative pain in robotic thoracic surgery. Future directions include refining these techniques through technological advancements like ultrasound guidance and exploring the long-term impacts of loco-regional anesthesia on patient recovery and surgical outcomes in the context of robotic thoracic surgery.

Novel dental anesthetic and associated devices: a scoping review.

The efficient management of pain and discomfort is essential for successful dental treatment and patient compliance. Dental professionals are commonly evaluated for their ability to perform treatment with minimal patient discomfort. Despite advancements in traditional local dental anesthesia techniques, the pain and discomfort associated with injections remain a concern. This scoping review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the literature on novel dental anesthetics and associated devices designed to alleviate pain and discomfort during dental procedures. The Joanna Briggs Institute and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines were used to prepare the review. Six databases and two sources of gray literature were searched. This review analyzed 107 sources from 1994 to 2023. Local anesthesia devices were grouped into computer-controlled local anesthetic delivery (CCLAD) systems, intraosseous anesthesia (IOA), vibratory stimulation devices, and electronic dental anesthesia (EDA). CCLAD systems, particularly the Wand and Single-Tooth Anesthesia, have been the most researched, with mixed results regarding their effectiveness in reducing pain during needle insertion compared to traditional syringes. However, CCLAD systems often demonstrated efficacy in reducing pain during anesthetic deposition, especially during palatal injections. Limited studies on IOA devices have reported effective pain alleviation. Vibrating devices have shown inconsistent results in terms of pain reduction, with some studies suggesting their primary benefit is during needle insertion rather than during the administration phase. EDA devices are effective in reducing discomfort but have found limited applicability. These findings suggest that the CCLAD systems reduce injection pain and discomfort. However, the evidence for other devices is limited and inconsistent. The development and research of innovative technologies for reducing dental pain and anxiety provides opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and improved patient care in dental practice.

Analysis of the Characteristics and Intricacies of Arrangement of Neural Elements in the Costoclavicular Block Using Ultrasound: A Retrospective Qualitative Study.

Background: Ultrasound (US)-guided costoclavicular block (CCB) is a promising new approach to brachial plexus (BP) block which is increasingly being utilized. Conventionally, the costoclavicular space (CCS) has been described to contain three cords. However, there may be variations in the neural pattern of the BP which is important to know to prevent inadvertent injury. We intend to describe the variations in neural patterns from retrospective scans of patients receiving costoclavicular BP block. Methods: The stored US images of patients who had received BP block using the CCB for surgery at the level of the elbow or below in the last year (from March 2021 to March 2022) were analyzed by two investigators independently. The clinical data were retrieved from the records of the same patients for the study outcomes. We collated the variations of the neural pattern, the number of neural structures seen, and the echogenicity of the structures in the costoclavicular BP space. Results: In the CCS, the median number of neural structures was 4.5 (minimum of 3 to maximum of 8). With the BP lateral to the axillary artery and sandwiched between the subclavius-pectoralis minor superiorly and the serratus anteriorly inferiorly, numerous variations in the neural structures were noted. The most common arrangement was caterpillar-like (28.6%) and pecker-like (20.3%). The neural structures were found to be hypoechoic in the majority (66%). Conclusion: The CCS hosts several mostly hypoechoic neural structures which may be the variations of the cords or the extension of BP divisions. These new findings have been unreported in the recent past.

Expediting the reversal of inferior alveolar nerve block anesthesia in children with photobiomodulation therapy.

In pediatric dentistry, complications arising from extended soft tissue anesthesia can negatively impact patient comfort and trust in dental care. This study evaluates the clinical efficacy of diode laser-based photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) in expediting the resolution of anesthesia in children aged 6-9 receiving inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) injections. In this split-mouth double-blind randomized clinical trial, 36 pediatric subjects aged 6-9, requiring pulpotomy procedures on both sides of the mandible, received IANBs (single cartridge of 2% lidocaine/1:100,000 epinephrine). PBMT and sham laser were alternately applied to each side of the mandible, in two separate sessions, with the envelope method determining treatment allocation and intervention side on the first treatment day. During the laser session, laser (808 nm, 250 mW, 23s continuous, 0.5 cm², 11.5 J/cm², direct contact) irradiated two points at the injection site, five intra-oral and five extra-oral points along the infra-alveolar nerve's pathway. Soft tissue anesthesia reversal was quantified through tactile assessment. Soft tissue trauma was also assessed by the researcher and reported by parents 24 h post-dental visit. All data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics v25.0 via Paired T-test, two-way repeated measures ANOVA, and McNemar's test. The laser group exhibited a mean lip anesthesia duration of 122.78 ± 2.26 min, while the sham laser group experienced 134.44 ± 21.8 min, indicating an 11.66-minute reduction in anesthesia duration for the laser group. (P < 0.001) Soft tissue trauma occurred in two sham laser group patients and one laser group patient, with no significant difference. (P = 1) The findings indicate that employing laser with defined parameters can reduce the length of IANB-induced anesthesia.

Ectopic sulcular pain: detection and treatment.

Patients who present with acute or chronic posterior dental pain but cannot identify the tooth from which the pain originates may suffer from a common but often unrecognized condition. The present article introduces a new term for this disorder, ectopic sulcular pain (ESP), derived from its unusual presentation, location, and defining symptom. It is tempting to call ESP an infection, but this has not been confirmed. In ESP, oral examination reveals no visual abnormalities, and there are no evident fractures, caries, periodontitis, attachment loss, traumatic occlusion, or periapical abscesses. This confusing symptomatology often leads to incorrect diagnosis and, consequently, treatment that fails to relieve the patient's pain. This article discusses ESP and reports 13 cases in which the condition was identified via intraligamental or topical application of an anesthetic agent to numb the gingiva. In 12 patients, ESP was successfully treated with meticulous oral hygiene, chlorhexidine rinses, and, in some cases, oral antibiotics.

Comparison of outcomes for general and local anesthesia in the management of nasal bone fractures: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: This meta-analysis aimed to perform a head-to-head comparison of the role of general anesthesia (GA) and local anesthesia (LA) in the management of patients with nasal bone fractures (NBFs). METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were comprehensively searched. Studies investigating the clinical outcomes of GA and LA in the management of NBFs were included. Pooled odds ratios (OR) with the respective 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Heterogeneity between the included studies was evaluated. The risk of bias in the included studies was assessed. RESULTS: Eight studies were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled ORs for cosmetic results, residual septal deformity, the need for further surgery, patients' satisfaction with the anesthesia procedure, and patients' satisfaction with the surgery results were 0.70 (95% CI 0.18, 2.64; z = - 0.53, p = 0.5957), 1.11 (95% CI 0.37, 3.30; z = 0.18, p = 0.8558), 1.19 (95% CI 0.65, 2.20; z = 0.56, p = 0.5760), 1.57 (95% CI 0.92, 2.69; z = 1.65, p = 0.0982), and 1.00 (95% CI 0.55, 1.80; z = - 0.00, p = 0.9974). CONCLUSIONS: Insignificant difference on clinical outcomes was observed between GA and LA in the manipulation of patients with NBFs, and the choice of anesthetic approach should be based on the tolerability of the methods and the severity of nasal fractures.

Percutaneous Transforaminal Endoscopic Lumbar Foraminotomy in Stable Degenerative Lumbar Isthmic Spondylolisthesis with Radicular Leg Pain: A Retrospective Study.

Objective: Endoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive option for effectively addressing lumbar degenerative diseases. This study aimed to describe the specific technology of percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic lumbar foraminotomy (PTELF) as a therapeutic intervention for managing radicular leg pain (RLP) resulting from stable degenerative lumbar isthmic spondylolisthesis (DLIS) and to present the associated clinical results. Methods: From March 2022 and April 2023, 25 patients were diagnosed with single-level stable DLIS with RLP and underwent PTELF. Clinical assessments utilized the visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and modified MacNab criteria. All endoscopic surgery videos were reviewed to interpret the pathology associated with DLIS. Results: The mean age of the cohort was 65.3 ± 11.0 years. The mean preoperative ODI score, VAS score for low back, and VAS score of the leg were 64.1 ± 8.2, 7.0 ± 0.7, and 7.3 ± 0.8, respectively. These scores significantly improved to 16.3 ± 10.4, 2.0 ± 0.6, and 1.7 ± 1.0 at the final follow-up, respectively (P<0.01). The modified MacNab criteria indicated "good" or "excellent" outcomes in 92.0% of cases. Analysis of 23 surgical videos revealed 15 patients with disc herniation, nine with lower vertebral endplate involvement, consistent presence of uneven bone spurs (at the proximal lamina stump and around the foramen), and accumulated scars. Two patients experienced postoperative dysesthesia, and one encountered a recurrence of RLP. Conclusion: PTELF emerges as a potentially safe and effective procedure for alleviating RLP in patients with stable DLIS. However, additional evidence and extended follow-up periods are imperative to evaluate the feasibility and potential risks associated with PTELF.

Anesthesia Techniques for Vitreoretinal Surgery in the United States: A Report from the Multicenter Perioperative Outcomes Group Research Consortium.

PURPOSE: To explore the patterns of anesthesia use and their determinants during vitreoretinal (VR) surgeries in academic and community hospitals across the US, using data from the Multicenter Perioperative Outcomes Group (MPOG). DESIGN: A retrospective, multicenter, cohort study. METHODS: We queried the MPOG database of 107,066 patients undergoing VR surgeries. Patients (≥18 yrs.) undergoing VR surgery with monitored anesthesia care (MAC) or general anesthesia (GA) from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2021 were included. Patient-level, case-based, and institutional-level covariates were collected. We performed multivariable mixed-effects models to determine predictors of anesthesia type use. The primary outcome was the type of anesthesia (MAC or GA) used during VR surgeries. As a secondary outcome, MAC cases were further classified based on the additional use of sedation into MAC with or without sedation. RESULTS: We found that 67.45% of VR surgery cases received MAC, and 73.63% of institutions administered MAC to more than half of cases. Random effect modeling revealed that 47.76% of the variation in MAC use was attributed to institutions. A trend toward increased use of MAC with increasing age was observed. Patients diagnosed with chronic pulmonary disease, liver disease, or a history of drug abuse were less likely to receive MAC. Conversely, we found that patients with reported alcohol abuse disorder, diabetes with complications, and those with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status of 4 (vs. 1, 2, or 3) were more likely to use MAC. Compared to non-complex VR surgeries, there was a notably decreased likelihood of MAC use in complex PPV (P = 0.004), PPV + scleral buckle (SB) for retinal detachment (P < 0.0001), and primary SB surgery (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 2/3 of VR anesthesia is under MAC, but GA is still preferred for SBs, complex vitrectomy, and younger patients. We show that large interinstitutional variation for using MAC in practice exists.