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Palliation of cancer related pain is one of the major concerns of patients suffering from cancer of the upper abdominal organs. The non-availability of imaging techniques to guide needle placement prompted us to use a blind technique of neurolytic coeliac plexus block. Thirty consecutive patients with intractable pain, due to documented inoperable upper abdominal visceral cancers, underwent neurolytic coeliac plexus block by blind percutaneous retrocrural unilateral neurolysis. The severity of pain was documented on a 0-10 visual analogue scale (VAS) performed pre-block and post-block at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month and 3 months. Pain relief was graded as excellent if the score was 0-2, good when VAS was 3-5, satisfactory whenVAS was 6-7 and unsatisfactory if VAS was 8-10. Excellent pain relief was obtained in 26/30 patients (86.6%). Relief from pain diminished with time and after 3 months, 16/30 patients (53.35) graded their pain relief as excellent. Transient but severe hypotension complicated 73% of blocks. Despite the proximity of vital structures, blind unilateral retrocrural neurolytic coeliac plexus blockade is a safe and effective means to relieve the terminal pain associated with upper abdominal visceral cancer. It deserves more widespread use in patients with upper abdominal cancer. Results of the present study are encouraging and relevant for clinicians working in developing countries.

Stellate ganglion block is a selective sympathetic block that affects the ipsilateral head, neck, upper extremity and upper part of the thorax. Convulsions are a recognized complication of intra-arterial injection during stellate ganglion block. As central nervous system toxicity depends ultimately on the concentration of the local anaesthetics presented to the brain, the likely causative factors are discussed as well as the types of toxic symptoms and their onset times. The paper considers the aetiological factors of such convulsions resulting from stellate ganglion block in two patients.

We report two cases of temporary taste disturbance after inferior alveolar nerve block. The first patient to present with this rare complication of anesthesia for dental surgery was a 41-year-old woman. She lost the sense of taste on the left side of her tongue after local anesthesia for treatment of a left mandibular molar and first visited our outpatient clinic complaining of taste disorder 3 months later. Electrogustometry (EGM) and filter paper disk (FPD) testing revealed a taste disturbance in the innervation area of the left chorda tympani nerve and atrophy of the fungiform papillae on the left side of the tongue was observed. Eleven months after the dental treatment, the fungiform papillae and the results of EGM were normal. The second patient, a 22-year-old woman, received local anesthetic for extraction of a right mandibular molar and subsequently developed loss of taste on the right side of the tongue. When she visited our outpatient clinic 3 months later, atrophy of the fungiform papillae on the right side was observed. Her gustatory sense began to improve 4 months after the dental surgery and was normal at 13 months. From these findings we conclude that taste disturbance on the same side as the inferior alveolar nerve block in each case was due to direct injury to the chorda tympani and lingual nerves during administration of the local anesthetic. The results of EGM and FPD testing were diagnostic: atrophy of the fungiform papillae on the same side and disappearance of taste on the same side in the intravenous taste test provided complementary diagnostic information. The outcome was satisfactory in both cases.

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) was developed in the 1970s specifically for the purpose of improved imaging of the pancreas. The close proximity of the pancreas to the gastric and duodenal lumen allows EUS to obtain high-resolution images, unobstructed by overlying bowel gas. EUS has fewer complications than endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and can detect features of chronic pancreatitis (CP) in the pancreatic parenchyma and duct that are not visible to any other imaging modality. Because of this high sensitivity, questions have arisen whether EUS is oversensitive, especially to ''early" CP. Without a definitive gold standard against which to measure EUS (or ERCP and function testing), it is currently not possible to know the true accuracy of these modalities for early CP. There is now an extensive body of literature suggesting that these early changes detected by EUS correlate with histologic changes of CP, and may predict response to pancreatic therapy. EUS is uniquely suited to performing endoscopic cyst drainage for pancreatic pseudocysts and for controlling the pain of CP by EUS-directed celiac plexus block. For endoscopic cystenterostomy, EUS allows the endoscopist to localize the cyst, determine if the cyst is drainable, and guide a needle and stent into the cyst in a single step. Several major questions remain. Can EUS features of CP guide other forms of therapy for CP such as enzyme replacement, sphincter of Oddi therapy, and stent therapy? Can the detection of early CP by EUS, and subsequent therapy, delay or prevent the onset of more severe CP? Can EUS detect early forms for dysplasia and malignancy in patients who are at high risk for pancreatic carcinoma? Do changes of "early" CP detected by EUS progress to more classic changes (calicification) over time?

Neurolytic celiac plexus block (CPB) under radiological guidance is often performed to manage pain associated with pancreatic cancer. Serious complications related to the block are rare. Computed Tomography (CT)-guided neurolytic CPB is advocated to improve the efficacy of the block and to reduce the incidence of associated complications. We describe a case of superior mesenteric vein thrombosis associated with neurolytic CPB performed under CT guidance.

Background and Objectives: Permanent and acute reversible paraplegia following celiac plexus block (CPB) have been reported. We report a case of prolonged reversible paraparesis after alcohol celiac plexus block., Case Report: A 72-year-old man with primary multicentric pancreatic tumor and multiple hepatic metastases underwent alcohol celiac plexus neurolysis for severe abdominal pain radiating to the back. The patient had complete pain relief after the block but developed paresthesia of the left leg, which then spread to the right leg. Subsequently, loss of flexion and extension of the muscles supplying the left hip, knee, and foot developed. Deep tendon reflexes were brisk on the left compared to the right, and both plantar reflexes gave flexor responses. Magnetic resonance imaging and myelography were normal. Motor-evoked potential recordings showed a spinal cord lesion with involvement of the pyramidal and spinothalamic tracts. Somatosensory-evoked potentials indicated a relative sparing of dorsal column pathways. Physiotherapy was started, the sensory changes gradually subsided, and the patient was discharged 30 days after the block with clinically insignificant neurological deficit., Conclusions: Paraparesis following alcohol celiac plexus block may be reversible over an extended period of time.

Objective: To compare the duration of spinal block with 5% prilocaine and 2% mepivacaine in short procedures for transurethral resection and to assess possible complications in the immediate postoperative period., Material and Methods: Fifty-seven patients scheduled for transurethral resection of the prostate or a vesical tumor. Patients were ASA I-III, over 55 years of age and randomly assigned to two groups to receive 5% prilocaine (1 mg/kg, n = 27) or 2% mepivacaine (0.8 mg/kg, n = 30). We collected data on anesthetic technique, levels of extension of motor and sensory blockades, duration of blockades and complications within the first 24 hours after surgery., Results: Demographic data, ASA classification and duration of surgery were similar in both groups. We found statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in duration of sensory blockade (120.92 +/- 36.21 min with prilocaine and 145.83 +/- 35.81 min with mepivacaine) and in motor blockade (106.29 +/- 38.16 min with prilocaine and 133.16 +/- 42.21 min with mepivacaine). Five cases of hypotension and 4 of bradycardia occurred in each group and one patient in the mepivacaine group suffered slight postoperative cephalea., Conclusions: Both local anesthetics offer good surgical conditions with hemodynamic stability and few complications. The duration of sensory and motor blockade is shorter with prilocaine than with mepivacaine, making prilocaine more appropriate for short interventions.

Objectives: The most common and potentially dangerous complication of spinal anesthesia for cesarean section is arterial hypotension. The aim of this study was to analyze maternal and gestational factors that might affect risk of arterial hypotension in full-term parturients undergoing cesarean section., Material and Method: We enrolled full-term parturients scheduled for elective cesarean section under spinal anesthesia. Spinal puncture was performed at L2-L3 using an atraumatic Sprotte-type needle. We administered 12.5 mg of hyperbaric 0.5% bupivacaine and 12.5 micrograms of fentanyl. Arterial hypotension was defined as a decrease in systolic pressure of at least 20% or a decrease to a pressure below 100 mmHg. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify factors related to the presentation of hypotension appearing in the interval between spinal puncture and birth., Results: The incidence of arterial hypotension was 33.3%. Statistical analysis revealed that integrity of the amniotic sac, parity and elective cesarean were significantly associated with a higher incidence of arterial hypotension (p < 0.03)., Conclusions: Identifying risk for multiparous parturients with intact amniotic sacs scheduled for elective cesarean can be worthwhile if greater preventive measures are taken in such patients to reduce the incidence and intensity of arterial hypotension.

Combined spinal-epidural blockade for labor pain has enjoyed increasing popularity in obstetric anesthesia. The usual procedure is to use a single space and a single needle for dural puncture, inserting a spinal needle through an epidural needle followed by insertion of a catheter. A small dose of one or several substances (usually a lipophilic opioid and a local anesthetic) is first injected in the intrathecal space to provide rapid, effective analgesia with minimal muscle blockade. The epidural catheter is used if labor lasts longer than the spinal block, if the spinal block is insufficient, or in case of cesarean section. Combined spinal-epidural blockade is a safe, valid alternative to conventional epidural analgesia and has become the main technique for providing obstetric analgesia in many hospitals. The most widely-recognized advantage of the technique is high maternal satisfaction with rapid and effective analgesia. Mobility of the lower extremities is preserved and the mother is often able to walk. Because opioids are injected into the intrathecal space and because the technique is more invasive than standard epidural analgesia, the potential risk to mother and fetus increases.

Horner's syndrome is a dramatic finding identified by perianesthesia nurses after regional anesthesia. This article describes the relationship between Horner's syndrome and regional anesthesia while explaining the signs and symptoms as they relate to blockade of the sympathetic nervous system.

Unlabelled: Epidural blockade leads to a sympathetic block in affected segments and an increase of sympathetic out-flow from various unblocked segments. A limited upper thoracic epidural block (LUTEB) is used during coronary artery surgery affecting the cardiac sympathetic fibers cephalad to the fifth thoracic segment. This block does not extend to the sympathetic fibers innervating the gastrointestinal organs. A LUTEB may lead to an increase of sympathetic activity in the unaffected splanchnic sympathetic segments and the decrease in splanchnic blood flow may contribute to gastrointestinal ischemia after cardiac surgery. We tested the hypothesis that a LUTEB decreases splanchnic perfusion in anesthetized dogs. Thirteen dogs were chronically instrumented with aortic and left atrial catheters, which were used for pressure measurement, as well as injection and withdrawal of reference samples. Thoracic epidural catheters were placed under general anesthesia the day before the experiment. Splanchnic blood flow was determined by using colored microspheres. Induction of a LUTEB did not change general hemodynamics in awake dogs. Propofol anesthesia induced an increase in heart rate that was abolished after LUTEB. LUTEB also decreased mean arterial pressure during propofol anesthesia. We conclude that thoracic epidural anesthesia had no effect on splanchnic blood flow. In propofol anesthetized animals, liver blood flow was increased compared with awake animals; however, it did not change after induction of LUTEB., Implications: A sympathetic block in certain segments leads to increased sympathetic output in unblocked segments. For an upper thoracic epidural block, this might lead to impaired splanchnic perfusion. In awake and propofol-anesthetized, chronically instrumented dogs, however, a limited upper thoracic epidural blockade had no compromising effect on gastrointestinal perfusion.

A 61-year-old woman in chronic treatment with 25 mg of amitriptyline underwent ovarian cancer resection under combined general and epidural lumbar anesthesia. After administration of local anesthetic she presented signs of severe arterial hypotension that was refractory to high doses of ephedrine and administration of dopamine alpha-adrenergic substances. Control was achieved with 200 micrograms of noradrenaline. We review the anesthetic implications of chronic use of tricyclic antidepressives as they affect choice of vasopressin for treating hypotensive events during anesthesia.

Objective: Cervicothoracic sympathetic blocks (stellate ganglion blocks) not only influence pain, but also lead to regional sympathetic denervation of part of the left ventricular wall, while other ventricular regions stay under the control of the unblocked side. What is the influence of these imbalances of sympathetic innervation on ventricular function?, Methods: Thirteen anaesthetised dogs were instrumented for measurement of left ventricular pressure (tip-manometer), cardiac output (ultrasonic flow probe) and regional myocardial function (sonomicrometry) in two left ventricular regions, innervated by the left or right sympathetic system, respectively. Electrical stimulations of the left and right stellate ganglia, and left and right sided stellate ganglion blocks were performed. In eight patients with no cardiac disease, the effects of left stellate ganglion blocks on echocardiographic variables of ventricular function were investigated., Results: In dogs, the unilateral ganglion stimulations led to an increase in regional and global contractility. However, left ventricular wall motion became asynchronous and, despite an increase in contractility, relaxation was impaired. After the ganglion blocks, there was a decrease in regional contractility within the denervated area, also leading to an asynchronous wall motion. As a consequence, relaxation was impaired, but cardiac output was maintained. In the patients, there was an increase in isovolumic relaxation time. This change was also within the compensatory range and cardiac output increased slightly as a consequence of a simultaneous afterload reduction by the ganglion block., Conclusion: The studies show a disturbance of diastolic function after stellate ganglion blocks, resulting from an asynchronous wall motion pattern after the regional denervation. However, the changes were within the compensatory range of a healthy ventricle and cardiac output was not reduced.

Stellate ganglion block is a common treatment for neuropathic pain. The technique is not without potentially severe complications when a paratracheal approach is used. A 33-year-old woman complained of atypical facial pain of 15 years' duration with pain intensity of 6 to 8 on a visual analog scale and no pain-free periods upon use of inadequate analgesia. One minute after performing a second stellate ganglion block the patient showed signs of apnea and paralysis of the upper extremities and face, with no involvement of oculomotor muscles or the lower extremities, and no loss of consciousness. Assisted ventilation was started. Signs and symptoms resolved fully after 15 minutes. A few days later, the patient reported having perceived paresthesia in the affected zone during the procedure. Central spread of a portion of local anesthetic by way of the spinal nerve sheath toward the subarachnoid space may cause partial cervical and basal nuclear blockade. Signs would be apnea, involvement of the upper extremities and facial muscles, although paresthesia during the injection is the only evidence supporting this hypothesis. Bone contact and negative aspiration while performing a stellate ganglion block do not guarantee avoidance of complications.

A 36-yr-old woman with metastatic mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the pancreas underwent neurolytic celiac plexus block with 100% ethanol and 0.5% bupivacaine for intractable back pain. Several hours after the procedure she developed severe nausea and vomiting, which persisted for days despite cessation of opioid analgesics, and administration of intravenous metoclopramide and ondansetron. Both esophagogastroduodenoscopy and barium examination of the stomach and small intestine showed excess gastric fluid but no evidence of mechanical obstruction. A radionuclide study revealed delayed gastric emptying of solids. Treatment with oral cisapride 10 mg p.o. q.i.d. resulted in considerable symptomatic improvement. We document the first reported case of gastroparesis after celiac plexus block and discuss possible etiological mechanisms.

Background and Objectives: Delayed onset of airway obstruction following stellate ganglion block (SGB) may be life threatening. We treated a patient who developed a severe airway obstruction caused by a large hematoma several hours after an SGB., Methods: A 62-year-old woman suffering from sudden deafness developed dyspnea 2 hours after undergoing her fourth SGB, and evidenced swelling and tenderness in her anterior neck and chest. Her pharyngolaryngeal tissues were edematous, and the glottis was markedly narrowed. Computed tomograms and magnetic resonance images revealed a large soft tissue mass extending from the first cervical vertebra to the diaphragm., Results: Surgical tracheotomy was performed to maintain her airway. Swelling of the vocal cord disappeared on the eleventh day after the operation., Conclusions: We believe that the SGB needle injured the vertebral artery and caused massive hemorrhage anterior to the cervical vertebra, subsequently inducing pharyngolaryngeal edema by obstructing the venous and lymphatic drainage of the cervical region.

A 59-year-old man had severe chronic diarrhea after a celiac plexus block. The block was performed because of unbearable abdominal pain caused by a benign cyst in the lesser sac. The patient also had diabetes mellitus and was treated with metformin. Thorough investigation and various therapeutic trials failed to detect the cause for the diarrhea or to improve it. Based on the temporal relationship we wonder whether the diarrhea was induced by the celiac block procedure. The relevant literature is reviewed.

Repetitive nerve blocks as a monotherapeutic treatment are loosing importance in the therapy of chronic pain. Such invasive methods for pain reduction are just one strategy in the interdisciplinary and multimodal planning of pain therapy. They are mostly used in special indications, e.g. reflex sympathetic dystrophy neurolysis in S3-S5 localized cancer pain. Premises for an invasive pain therapy are the patient's knowledge and agreement concerning this method. Furthermore, it is necessary for the physician to know the typical complications of the invasive treatment and to be able to manage them. It is recommended to document the pain course.

Background and Objectives: The neurolytic celiac plexus block is an established, well-developed procedure and the most widely applicable of all the neurolytic pain blocks. It optimizes palliative treatment for cancer of the upper abdominal viscera. Several techniques have been proposed in an attempt to increase success rates, reduce morbidity, and enhance technical accuracy. However, the assessment of the results and effectiveness of the block have been controversial., Methods: A survey was made of pertinent English language literature on the anatomic and technical problems, indications, advantages, complications, and outcomes related to the neurolytic celiac plexus block as well as the neurolytic solutions and radiologic guidance used., Results: The successful relief of the pain of pancreatic cancer and other abdominal malignancies can be expected in 85% and 73% of patients, respectively. Following the block, many patients can be weaned from opioids or at least have their dose reduced. The half-life of the celiac plexus block seems to be more than 4 weeks. The probability of patients remaining completely pain-free diminishes with increases survival time. The technique selected should be appropriate to the available and the extent of malignancy, since the analgesic results seem to be independent of the principal techniques used. Serious complications are extremely rare. However, critical analysis revealed major deficiencies in all of the reports reviewed., Conclusion: Neurolytic celiac plexus block alone is capable of providing complete pain relief until death in a few cases and, therefore, should be considered as an adjuvant treatment in the analgesic strategy. Combination palliative therapy is necessary in most cases. Failure of the block may be attributed to tumor metastasizing beyond the nerves that conduct pain via the celiac plexus and the component nerves that form it. Concomitant pain of somatic origin (frequently observed in upper gastrointestinal cancer because of significant peritoneal involvement) requires other therapeutic measures.

This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy, based on 12- to 70-month follow-up data, of radiofrequency (RF) lesions of the sphenopalatine ganglion made in patients suffering from cluster headache. Sixty-six patients suffering from either episodic (Group A, 56 patients) or chronic (Group B, 10 patients) cluster headache who were not responsive to pharmacological management were treated by RF lesioning in the sphenopalatine ganglion. Complete relief of pain was achieved in 34 (60.7%) of 56 patients in Group A and in three (30%) of 10 patients in Group B. No relief was found in eight patients (14.3%) in Group A and in four (40%) in Group B. The mean time of follow up was 29.1 +/- 10.6 months in Group A and 24 +/- 9.7 months in Group B, ranging from 12 to 70 months. With regard to side effects and complications, temporary postoperative epistaxis was observed in eight patients and a cheek hematoma in 11 patients; a partial RF lesion of the maxillary nerve was inadvertently made in four patients. Nine patients complained of hypesthesia of the palate, which disappeared in all cases within 3 months. The authors conclude that RF lesioning in the sphenopalatine ganglion via the infrazygomatic approach may be performed in patients suffering from cluster headache that does not respond to pharmacological therapy.

Background and Objectives: Genitofemoral nerve (GFN) block is a known side effect of a lumbar sympathetic block (LSB), although the incidence has not been well documented. Furthermore, genitofemoral neuralgia can occur following neurolytic LSB. Because the level at which the GFN exits the psoas sheath varies, this study was designed to identify differences in the incidence of GFN block following LSB at the level of the second versus the fourth lumbar vertebrae., Methods: Patients requiring LSB to evaluate chronic lower extremity pain were prospectively studied. Patients were injected at the second lumbar (L2 group) or fourth lumbar (L4 group) vertebral body depending on the location of the pain syndrome in the lower extremity. Lumbar sympathetic blocks were performed using 10 mL of a 0.5% bupivacaine solution with radiocontrast; spread of injectate was verified using fluoroscopy. An observer evaluating for presence of GFN block was blinded to the lumbar level of injection., Results: Thirty patients were enrolled (L2 group, n = 15; L4 group, n = 15). Spread of local anesthetic/radiocontrast solution was limited to approximately one vertebral body above and one below the target level. There was no difference in the ability to achieve a LSB; success rates were 66% and 73% using L2 and L4, respectively. The incidence of GFN block was 0% (0/15) in the L2 group versus 40% (6/15) in the L4 group; this was statistically significant (P = .017, Fisher's exact test)., Conclusions: The GFN is less likely to be blocked when the LSB is performed near the second lumbar vertebra as compared with the fourth lumbar vertebra.

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy of lidocaine tape, a new preparation of lidocaine for cutaneous topical anaesthesia in the form of a self-adhesive tape, in alleviating the pain of needle insertion during stellate ganglion block., Methods: In a double-blind, placebo controlled study, 30 adult outpatients undergoing stellate ganglion block were allocated to receive all of the following five treatments in random order: placebo tape applied to the intended site of the block (control), or lidocaine tape applied for 7, 15, 30, and 60 min. After the block was performed using a 24-gauge needle, the pain associated with needle insertion was assessed using a visual analogue scale (10 cm VAS) and the four-point verbal rating score (VRS 0-3)., Results: With placebo tape, the VAS and VRS scores were 2.4 +/- 1.27 (0.5-4.8) (mean +/- SD (range)) and 1.5 (1-2) (mean (range)), respectively. The pain scores were reduced (P < 0.01) by lidocaine tape after application for 7 min (1.6 +/- 1.06 and 1.0 (0-2) for VAS (mean +/- SD) and VRS (mean (range)), respectively), 15 min (1.5 +/- 1.00 and 1.0 (1-2)), 30 min (1.5 +/- 1.08 and 1.0 (1)), and 60 min (0.6 +/- 0.70 and 0.6 (0-1)). Skin erythema was more frequent with lidocaine tape than with placebo tape (seven minutes of lidocaine tape vs placebo tape, P < 0.05; 15, 30, and 60 min of lidocaine tape vs placebo, P < 0.0005)., Conclusion: Stellate ganglion block without analgesia is fairly painful in some patients, even when using a 24-gauge needle, and needle pain is reduced by lidocaine tape after an application time of seven minutes or more.

We report here a case of paraplegia following coeliac plexus block by anterior approach under direct vision. Laparotomy was performed in a 62-year-old male patient with pancreatic cancer. Coeliac plexus block was undertaken in order to control his back pain, since the tumor was unresectable. The patient complained of numbness and weakness of his legs 14 hours later. The consequence of neurological events was diagnosed as ischemic infarct of the spinal cord by myelo-CT and MRI. He died of pancreatic cancer without recovery of neurological disturbances 4 months after the surgery. As demonstrated in this case, even when coeliac plexus block was performed by open anterior approach under direct vision, paraplegia might be a possible complication due to the anatomical proximity of coeliac plexus to the Adamkiewicz's artery.

We report a case of severe hypertension following stellate ganglion block. A 61-year old woman received the left stellate ganglion block with 5 ml of 1% mepivacaine for her left facial palsy. Before the stellate ganglion block, blood pressure was 120/68 mmHg and heart rate was 62 b.p.m. Seven minutes after the left stellate ganglion block, blood pressure increased to 230/140 mmHg, but heart rate was unchanged. Systolic blood pressure remained above 190 mmHg for 60 minutes following the stellate ganglion block. We suggest that the extreme increase in blood pressure was due to the vagal nerve block associated with the left stellate ganglion block.

Background and Objectives: A 21-year-old man was scheduled for a diagnostic lumbar sympathetic block for reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the right lower extremity., Methods: The patient experienced paresthesias with possible puncture of a dural sleeve during needle placement under fluoroscopy. After discharge, the patient developed a positional headache, which increased in intensity over 48 hours. An epidural blood patch was subsequently performed., Results: The patient obtained complete relief from the headache., Conclusion: Postdural puncture headache resulting from leakage of cerebrospinal fluid through a punctured dural sleeve may be successfully treated with an epidural blood patch should more conservative treatments fail.

An unusual case of Horner's syndrome secondary to a sympathetic block in a patient with chronic adhesive arachnoiditis (CAA) is described. The patient, a 40-year-old white woman, presented with spastic paraplegia, hyperreflexia, bilateral Babinski sign, superficial and deep sensitive hypoaesthesia at the T4 level, in addition to bladder and rectal dysfunction since she was 32. At age of 38 she complained of excessive daily sweating below the T4 level, mostly at night. A 4mL 0.5% bupivacaine lumbar sympathetic block was performed. Within 15 min a right brachial paresis and an ipsilateral Horner's syndrome were noted. Speculatively, an abnormal cephalic spread of the anaesthesic due to a putative erratic space secondary to the CAA may justify the clinical picture even using a relatively small amount of anaesthesic (4 mL).

To evaluate the efficacy and level of patient satisfaction, as well as the incidence of neurological manifestations, hemodynamic changes and other perioperative complications of cervical plexus block. This was a prospective study of 52 patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy under superficial and deep cervical plexus block. The anesthetic technique was effective in all cases. Supplementation with local anesthetic was needed for 25% of the patients and none required general anesthesia. The technique was considered good by 92% of the patients, who stated that would accept the same technique in case of having to undergo surgery on the contralateral carotid artery. Hypertension was the hemodynamic change observed most often (in 30%) during surgery. No serious complications related to the anesthetic technique were observed, though transient dysphonia was the most frequently seen effect (in 36.5%). Eight (15.4%) patients showed neurological signs when the carotid was clamped, with symptoms resolving with placement of a shunt. Two deaths due to myocardial infarction occurred after surgery and 1 patient suffered a permanent cerebrovascular accident. Regional anesthesia with deep and superficial cervical plexus block during carotid endarterectomy allows for continuous evaluation of the patient's neurological status and facilitates the selective use of intraluminal shunt for the prevention of stroke accident during surgery. The technique is well-tolerated by patients, does not make surgery more difficult, does not give rise to serious complications and the incidence of local complications is low.

Background and Objectives: Effective management of severe pain in acute pancreatitis is one of the important issues in therapy, as pain reflexes can contribute to the development of life-threatening secondary complications. Although opioid derivatives are still clinically in use, the direct interruption of afferent nociceptive visceral stimulation (e.g., by segmental epidural block) is claimed to be much more effective method of pain relief. However, in a group of the patients with alcohol ingestion as the etiology of pancreatitis and history of drug/opioid addiction in the background, epidural block failed to alleviate the pain. Study aim was to assess the effect of continuous celiac plexus block as an alternative analgesic method in patients with acute pancreatitis by using a retrospective analysis., Methods: Of 43 patients admitted to the intensive care unit with acute pancreatitis, 7 who did not respond to routine segmental T5-L2 epidural block received a continuous celiac plexus block performed in the right lateral position as an alternative method of pain relief., Results: Intermittent or continuous unilateral celiac plexus block offers an effective alternative treatment for pain in acute pancreatitis, especially in patients with alcohol etiology and history of drug/opioid addiction, in whom the conventional methods fail to give proper pain relief.

The failure rate and complications were studied prospectively in 367 paediatric and adult patients who had received a thoracic or lumbar paravertebral block. The overall failure rate was 10.1%; adults 10.7%; children 6.2%. The frequency of complications were: hypotension: 4.6%; vascular puncture: 3.8%; pleural puncture: 1.1%; pneumothorax: 0.5%. Since these results are similar to those found with alternative methods, e.g. epidural, intrapleural and intercostal blocks, paravertebral block can be recommended as an effective, safe technique for unilateral analgesia in both adults and children.

To assess the efficacy of 4% topical lidocaine in spheno-palatine blocks, a randomized controlled trial was carried out on patients with chronic muscle pain syndromes. Sixty-one patients (42 with fibromyalgia (FM) and 19 with myofascial pain syndrome (MPS)) completed the trial. Outcome measures included pain intensity, a daily pain diary, headache frequency, sensitivity to pressure using a dolorimeter, anxiety, depression, and sleep quality. Patients were randomized to receive either 4% lidocaine or sterile water (placebo) 6 times over a 3-week period. Both subjects and investigators were blind to treatment allocation. The results showed that 4% lidocaine had no superiority over placebo in any of the outcome measures. Twenty-one subjects (35%) showed a decrease in pain which was greater than 30% of their baseline value. Of these 21 subjects, 10 received lidocaine and 11 received placebo. These data suggest that, in this population, 4% lidocaine is no better than placebo in the treatment of chronic muscle pain.

We experienced a case of sinus arrest probably induced by right stellate ganglion block (SGB). A healthy medical student volunteered in our study of the cardiac autonomic nervous system and received the SGB. After the Holter ECG had been attached, the SGB was performed with mepivacaine 8 ml. Horner's sign was observed after about 3 minutes. A transient (15 s) sinus arrest occurred suddenly after about 6 minutes of the tilt test probably due to a vasovagal reflex, and the subject lost consciousness. From spectral analysis of the Holter ECG recording, the right SGB may be closely involved in the induction of the sinus arrest. Our present case suggests that sinus arrest may occur if a patient stands up after right SGB.

We evaluated the effect of intraoperative celiac plexus block (CPB) and thoracic epidural block (TEB) on arterial ketone body ratio (AKBR) in the patients undergoing total or partial gastrectomy. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate, AKBR, and arterial blood gas were measured at the end of esophago-jejunostomy, gastro-duodenostomy, or gastro-jejunostomy (pre-block) and at the end of operation (post-block), respectively. After pre-block measurement, CPB with 99.5% ethanol 15-20 ml was carried out in 8 patients with advanced gastric cancer (CPB group); TEB with 2% lidocaine was performed on 8 patients (TEB group); and neither CPB nor TEB was done on 8 patients (control group). A significant reduction in MAP was observed after CPB and TEB. There was no difference in the degree of MAP decrease between CPB group and TEB group. No change in MAP was observed in control group. In CPB group significant decreases in AKBR, pH, and BE were induced by CPB. However, there were no difference in AKBR, pH, and BE between pre-block values and post-block values in TEB group as in the control group. These findings suggest that ethanol used in CPB reduces the redox state of hepatic mitochondria and increases lactate. Therefore we should pay attention to the changes in AKBR, pH, and BE after celiac plexus block with ethanol.

We have studied the haemodynamic effects of subarachnoid block in elderly patients. Thirty patients were undergoing elective transurethral surgery and 18 non-elective orthopaedic surgery, predominantly fractured neck of femur. Systolic arterial pressure (SAP) was measured by automated oscillotonometry, central venous pressure (CVP) by manometer and cardiac index (CI), stroke index (SI) and heart rate (HR) by transthoracic electrical bioimpedance. Systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) was derived. SAP decreased by more than 25% in 33 patients and SVRI showed similar decreases (P = 0.0001). CVP decreased (2.5 (SD 1.5) cm H2O) in all patients. CI was unaffected because a decrease in SI in some patients (13 (19)%; P = 0.01) was compensated for by an increase in HR (13 (13)%; P = 0.01). Decreases in SAP of 25% were treated initially with colloid solution 8 ml kg-1, which restored SAP in 19 patients. CVP, SI and HR were all restored to baseline values, however, SVRI was decreased further (P < 0.05). Fourteen patients required additional treatment with metaraminol which restored SVRI to baseline values. Patients with systolic hypertension were more likely to require treatment with metaraminol (P = 0.04).