Peripheral Nerve Blocks for Cesarean Delivery Analgesia: A Narrative Review.

Effective postoperative analgesia using multimodal approach improves maternal and neonatal outcomes after cesarean delivery. The use of neuraxial approach (local anesthetic and opioids) and intravenous adjunctive drugs, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and acetaminophen, currently represents the standard regimen for post-cesarean delivery analgesia. Peripheral nerve blocks may be considered in patients who are unable to receive neuraxial techniques; these blocks may also be used as a rescue technique in selected patients. This review discusses the relevant anatomy, current evidence, and advantages and disadvantages of the various peripheral nerve block techniques. Further research is warranted to compare the analgesic efficacy of these techniques, especially newer blocks (e.g., quadratus lumborum blocks and erector spinae plane blocks). Moreover, future studies should determine the safety profile of these blocks (e.g., fascial plane blocks) in the obstetric population because of its increased susceptibility to local anesthetic toxicity.

Anesthetic Management for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Hypermobility Type Complicated by Local Anesthetic Allergy: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, hypermobility type is characterized by increased extensibility, permeability, and fragility of the affected cartilaginous tissues, including the trachea, larynx, and skin. Anesthetic considerations for patients with this syndrome include intubation difficulties secondary to the collapse of fibro-elastic tissues in the trachea and a reported resistance to local anesthetics. CASE REPORT Our patient was a 22-year-old G4P0030 woman with a history of morbid obesity, seizures, Barrett's esophagus, hypermobility being evaluated for Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and anaphylaxis to an unknown local anesthetic who was scheduled for cesarean delivery. She refused allergy testing. After rapid-sequence induction of general anesthesia, video laryngoscopy facilitated endotracheal intubation. Delivery and recovery were uneventful for the mother and child. CONCLUSIONS No guidelines for neuraxial or general anesthesia exist for patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, hypermobility type. Increased rates of cervical spine instability and local anesthetic resistance have been reported in this population and should be considered when developing the anesthetic plan.

Surgical complications associated with extensive tumoral calcinosis.

In this article, we describe the presenting features, radiographic appearance, and proposed pathogenesis of tumoral calcinosis; highlight the surgical complications we have encountered with the syndrome; and review the complications reported in the literature.