Erector spinae plane block, neuropathic pain and quality of life after video-assisted thoracoscopy surgery. Pilot, observational study.

BACKGROUND: The erector spinae plane block (ESPB) is a valuable alternative for pain management after video-assisted thoracoscopy surgery (VATS). The incidence of postoperative chronic neuropathic pain (CNP) is high while the quality of life (QoL) after VATS remains unknown. We hypothesised that patients with ESPB would have a low incidence of acute and CNP and would report a good QoL up to three months after VATS. METHODS: We conducted a single-centre prospective pilot cohort study from January to April 2020. ESPB after VATS was the standard practice. The primary outcome was the incidence of CNP three months postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included QoL assessed by the EuroQoL questionnaire three months after surgery and pain control at the Post-Anaesthesia Care Unit (PACU), 12 and 24 hours postoperatively. RESULTS: We conducted a single-centre prospective pilot cohort study from January to April 2020. ESPB after VATS was the standard practice. The primary outcome was the incidence of CNP three months postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included QoL assessed by the EuroQoL questionnaire three months after surgery and pain control at the Post-Anaesthesia Care Unit (PACU), 12 and 24 hours postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: We conducted a single-centre prospective pilot cohort study from January to April 2020. ESPB after VATS was the standard practice. The primary outcome was the incidence of CNP three months postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included QoL assessed by the EuroQoL questionnaire three months after surgery and pain control at the Post-Anaesthesia Care Unit (PACU), 12 and 24 hours postoperatively.

Descripción de técnica anestésica con dexmedetomidina más anestesia controlada por el paciente de alfentanilo para litotripsia extracorpórea en tratamiento de urolitiasis / Description of anesthetic technique with dexmedetomidine plus anesthesia controlled by the alfentanil patient for extracorporeal lithotripsy in treatment of urolithiasis

La litotripsia extracorpórea es un procedimiento frecuente en el ejercicio de la urología para el manejo no invasivo de la enfermedad litiásica renal. Desde el punto de vista anestésico, para la litotripsia extracorpórea se han utilizado la anestesia general, la regional y técnicas analgésicas. En una serie de casos se describe la técnica de dexmedetomidina más anestesia controlada por el paciente (PCA), con alfentanilo como analgesia intravenosa para dicho procedimiento; se observó una adecuada analgesia y aceptación por parte del paciente y el urólogo, con excelente seguridad. Este reporte de casos es la base para estudios aleatorios posteriores para comparar las técnicas utilizadas actualmente y esta nueva técnica.

The shock wave lithotripsy is a frequent procedure in the exercise of urology. From the anesthetic point of view, the following procedures have been used for the shock wave lithotripsy: general, regional anesthesia, regional anesthesia and analgesic techniques. We describe, in a case series, the technique of dexmedetomidina and Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA) with alfentanil intravenous analgesia for this procedure, being observed a suitable analgesia and acceptance on the part of the patient and the practitioner with excellent security. This case report is the base to randomized study to compare the actual technical used and this new technique.