Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation in Chronic Post-Surgical Anorectal Pain: A Case Report.

Introduction: Anorectal pain is a symptom with a negative impact on quality of life and it can sometimes develop into a chronic pain syndrome. Structural anorectal pain is treated according to the underlying pathology. In situations of chronic post-surgical pain that is refractory to conventional therapeutic approaches, percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) is an option. PTNS is a neurostimulation technique used in the treatment of lower urinary tract dysfunction. There has been increasing evidence of its benefits for improving other conditions, such as chronic pelvic pain (CPP) and faecal incontinence (FI). Case Presentation: We report a case of a 45-year-old woman with chronic post-surgical anorectal pain (CPAP) treated with PTNS. The patient reported a consistent and dramatic decrease in both the frequency and intensity of pain, assessed by the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI). A decrease in the pain interference with mood, normal work, and walking/mobility was also noted, as evaluated by BPI and EQ-5D-3L questionnaires. Discussion: Neuromodulation treatments have been reported as effective for anorectal pain, but reports on the use of PTNS are rare. The tibial nerve is easily accessible and provides an optimal site for neurostimulation without the need of an operating room or anaesthesia. The overall improvement observed in this case of chronic anorectal pain suggests a potential new area of research for PTNS.

Introdução: A dor anorectal é um sintoma com um impacto negativo na qualidade de vida, podendo, por vezes, desenvolver-se numa síndrome de dor crónica. A dor ano rectal de etiologia estrutural trata-se de acordo com a patologia subjacente. No entanto, em situações de dor crónica pós-cirúrgica refratária a abordagens terapêuticas convencionais, a estimulação percutânea do nervo tibial (percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation − PTNS) é uma opção de tratamento. A PTNS é uma técnica de neuroestimulação, estando descritos benefícios da sua aplicação no tratamento da urgência, frequência, incontinência e retenção urinária. Evidência crescente mostra, ainda, resultados promissores noutras condições, como a dor crónica pélvica e a incontinência fecal. Caso Clínico: Descrevemos um caso de uma mulher de 45 anos, com dor crónica anorectal pós-cirúrgica tratada com PTNS. Ao longo do período de seguimento, a doente reportou uma diminuição consistente e significativa na frequência e na intensidade da dor, tal como avaliado pelo Brief Pain Inventory (BPI). Adicionalmente, foi notória uma melhoria significativa de parâmetros relacionados com a qualidade de vida, avaliados pelos questionários BPI e EQ-5D-3L. Discussão: A evidência atual mostra que técnicas baseadas em neuromodulação têm sido eficazes no tratamento da dor anorectal, apesar dos estudos com PTNS ainda serem escassos. O nervo tibial é uma estrutura facilmente acessível e constitui um local óptimo para aplicação de neuroestimulação. A PTNS é uma opção terapêutica pouco invasiva, que não necessita de idas ao bloco operatório, nem de apoio de anestesia. O benefício observado do uso da PTNS neste caso sugere uma nova área de estudo e de potencial aplicabilidade para a técnica.

Pneumocephalus Following Unidentified Dural Puncture: A Case Report with an Unusual Neurological Presentation.

Pneumocephalus is a rare consequence of epidural anesthesia, which may occur following inadvertent or unidentified dural puncture when the loss of resistance to air technique is applied to identify the epidural space. Headache is the most common symptom presented in this condition, usually with sudden onset. This case report describes an unusual presentation of diffuse pneumocephalus after an unidentified dural puncture. The patient (male, 67 years old) was submitted to epidural catheter placement for the treatment of acute exacerbation of ischemic chronic pain using loss of resistance to air technique. No cerebrospinal fluid or blood flashback was observed after needle withdrawal. Shortly after the intervention, the patient presented symptoms of lethargy, apathy, and hypophonia, which are not commonly associated with pneumocephalus. No motor or sensory deficits were detected. Cranial computed tomography showed air in the frontal horn of the left ventricle, subarachnoid space at interhemispheric fissure and basal cisterns, confirming the diagnosis of diffuse pneumocephalus. The patient remained under vigilance with oxygen therapy and the epidural catheter left in place. After 24 hours, cranial computed tomography showed air in the temporal and frontal horns of the left ventricle, with no air in the subarachnoid space. The patient presented no neurological signs or symptoms at this time. Although headache is the most common symptom presented in reported cases of pneumocephalus, this case shows the need for the clinician to be aware of other signs and symptoms that may be indicative of this condition, in order to properly diagnose and treat these patients.Key words: Pneumocephalus, continuous epidural analgesia, ischemic chronic pain, loss-of-resistance to air technique, dural puncture, headache, unusual presentation.

[Can we find predictive factors of postoperative vomiting after day surgery?]. / Poderemos encontrar factores predictivos de vómitos no pós-operatório de cirurgia em regime de ambulatório?

A retrospective analyses of patients submitted to surgery on a day basis was made through our database. The goal of the study was to identify risk factors of postoperative vomiting associated to day surgery. 2115 patients operated between January 2003 and November 2004 on our day surgery unit were included. 70 patients (3,3%) suffered at least on episode of postoperative vomiting. Several factors were analysed: age, sex, surgical speciality, ASA physical status, anaesthetic technique and the duration of anesthesia. Chi-Square Test was used for testing each factor individually. Differences were considered significant when p <0,05. Logistic regression was then used to identify the multivariate association strength of these factors. The female sex (Odds ratio =4,94) and the duration of anesthesia when longer than 180 minutes (Odds ratio =8,13), had been associated to a higher incidence of postoperative vomiting, while loco-regional technique (Odds ratio = 0,15) and sedation with local anaesthesia (Odds ratio =0,09) had been associated with a lower incidence. Authors evidence the importance of the identification of postoperative vomiting risk factors that will allow us to establish better guidelines on postoperative nausea and vomiting prophylaxis in these patients and to improve the quality of our clinical care and the satisfaction of our patients.