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Objective: To determine the advantages of supraclavicular blockade of the brachial plexus in the formation of arteriovenous fistulas for hemodialysis treatment. Comparison of peripheral nerve block, general and local infiltration anesthesia in the formation of fistulas. Design: Prospective non-randomized study. Approved by the ethics committee of JLF UK in Martin. Setting: University hospital. Material and methods: Three groups of patients who were created arteriovenous fistula. A group of 20 patients were operated under peripheral nerve block anesthesia, 20 patients were operated under local infiltration anesthesia and 5 patients were operated under general anesthesia. The main monitored parameter was the preserved function of the fistula 24 hours and 6 weeks after the operation. Inclusion criteria: age 19-75 years, ASA 3-4, weight 40-120 kg, BMI up to 40. Statistical methods: Mann-Whitney U test and exact two-tailed test, Shapiro-Wilk test, Fisher's two-tailed exact test, paired Wilcoxon's exact two-tailed test. Results: After 24 hours, all fistulas created under peripheral nerve block anesthesia were functional, 90 % under local infiltration anesthesia and 80 % under general anesthesia. There was no statistically significant dependence between the functionality of the fistula and any type of anesthesia. After 6 weeks, 80 % of fistulas created under general or peripheral nerve block anesthesia and only 50 % of fistulas under local infiltration anesthesia were functional. For peripheral nerve block anesthesia and local infiltration anesthesia, a statistically significant difference was found in favor of peripheral nerve block anesthesia (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Peripheral nerve block anesthesia was associated with better fistula survival compared to local infiltration anesthesia in our study. General anesthesia had fistula survival comparable to peripheral nerve block anesthesia, but was associated with a higher incidence of complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alpacas are becoming more and more diffused as pets in Europe and United Kingdom, and it is not uncommon to deal with these species in large animal referral hospitals. Unfortunately, pain assessment and treatment in llamoids remain challenging, due to their instinct of hiding signs of pain and the lack of relevant scientific literature. Case Description: This report describes the use of an ultrasound-guided brachial plexus block as part of a multimodal analgesic strategy in an alpaca undergoing surgical right shoulder luxation repair. Based on the intra-operative cardiovascular stability, the post-operative comfort level, and the minimal amount of systemic analgesics needed, it can be concluded that the block appeared effective and contributed to the peri-operative pain management. After recovery from general anesthesia, drooping of the right upper eyelid was observed and persisted for approximately 10 hours. This finding could be interpreted as a Horner's syndrome-like clinical sign and be a minor complication of the block, as previously described in other species. Conclusion: Despite the minor complication here reported, and the difficulty in assessing intra- and post-operative nociception and pain in camelids, it can be concluded that the use of a brachial plexus block could be a valuable option when desensitization of the forelimb is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a survey and semi-structured qualitative interviews to investigate current anaesthetic practice for arteriovenous fistula formation surgery in the UK. Responses were received from 39 out of 59 vascular centres where arteriovenous access surgery is performed, a response rate of 66%. Thirty-five centres reported routine use of brachial plexus blocks, but variation in anaesthetic skill-mix and practice were observed. Interviews were conducted with 19 clinicians from 10 NHS Trusts including anaesthetists, vascular access and renal nurses, surgeons and nephrologists. Thematic analysis identified five key findings: (1) current anaesthetic practice showed that centres could be classified as 'regional anaesthesia dominant' or 'local anaesthesia/mixed'; (2) decision making around mode of anaesthesia highlighted the key role of surgeons as frontline decision makers across both centre types; (3) perceived barriers and facilitators of regional block use included clinicians' beliefs and preferences, resource considerations and patients' treatment preferences; (4) anaesthetists' preference for supraclavicular blocks emerged, alongside acknowledgement of varied practice; (5) there was widespread support for a future randomised controlled trial, although clinician equipoise issues and logistical/resource-related concerns were viewed as potential challenges. The use of regional anaesthesia for arteriovenous fistula formation in the UK is varied and influenced by a multitude of factors. Despite the availability of anaesthetists capable of performing regional blocks, there are other limiting factors that influence the routine use of this technique. The study also highlighted the perceived need for a large multicentre, randomised controlled trial to provide an evidence base to inform current practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In Britain, consent for surgery is documented using a Department of Health form signed by the surgeon and the patient. In contrast, anaesthetic procedures have no formalised consent process. Evidence on the process of consent for regional anaesthesia, and patient perceptions of this, is scarce outside obstetric practice. We aimed to determine patient recall and perceptions of consent for interscalene brachial plexus block and compared this to surgical consent for shoulder arthroplasty.Design: Prospective observational survey.Setting: A specialist musculoskeletal centre, UK.Participants: Forty-six patients (female:male 30:16, mean age 61 years) undergoing shoulder arthroplasty with interscalene brachial plexus block.Main Outcome Measures: Recall and understanding of consent for regional anaesthesia and surgery was examined using a semi-structured questionnaire 1-2 days after arthroplasty. Surgical consent forms and discussions recorded by the anaesthetist were examined in participants' medical notes to compare against the level of recall. Analysis to determine statistical significance was conducted using McNemar's test.Results: Recall of surgical risks was overall significantly better than recall of brachial plexus block risks. Compared to their recollections of surgical risk, patients remembered fewer specific risks for brachial plexus block (p < 0.001). There were more patients unable to recall any risks when questioned about brachial plexus block than about their surgery (p < 0.05). One-third of patients did not regard the consent discussion about regional anaesthesia as important as consent for surgery and over one-quarter had not recognised the preoperative discussion about the brachial plexus block as a consent process similar to that conducted for surgery.Conclusions: Fundamental misunderstandings about the consent process are prevalent. Future work in this area should seek to investigate how documentation of the consent process and patients' understanding of consent for regional anaesthesia can be improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]