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Background: Post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) is the most common complication following spinal anesthesia among parturients undergoing cesarean section surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of acetaminophen and caffeine in preventing PDPH.Methods: This double-blind, randomized clinical trial was conducted on 96 obstetric women, who were candidates for elective cesarean section. Following the randomization of participants into two groups, participants in the intervention group received tablets of acetaminophen (500 mg)+caffeine (65 mg), and participants in the control group received placebo tablets orally 2 hours before spinal anesthesia induction and then every 6 hours after surgery up to 24 hours. All parturients were evaluated for frequency and intensity of PDPH every 6 hours until 24 hours after surgery and then 48 and 72 hours after surgery. Overall satisfaction during the first 72 hours of postpartum was evaluated. The data were analyzed using SPSS software. P

Pediatric regional anesthesia has been in existence for over 125 years, but significant progress and widespread use has occurred in the last few decades, with the increasing availability of ultrasound guidance. Evidence supporting the safety of regional anesthesia when performed under general anesthesia has also allowed the field to flourish. Newer techniques allow for more precise nerve blockade and in general this has resulted in more peripheral blocks replacing central blocks, such as caudal epidurals and spinal anesthesia. Current controversial topics in the field include the method of obtaining loss of resistance when placing epidural catheters, the role of regional anesthesia in compartment syndrome and post-hypospadias repair complications, and utility of test doses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Spinal anesthesia-induced hypotension (SAH) frequently occurs in older patients, many of whom have mild left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction, often asymptomatic at rest. This study investigated the association between preoperative echocardiographic measurements and SAH in older patients with mild LV diastolic dysfunction. Methods We conducted a retrospective observational study using data from electronic medical records. The patients ≥ 65 years old who underwent spinal anesthesia for urologic surgery between January 2016 and December 2017 and whose preoperative echocardiography within 6 months before surgery revealed grade I LV diastolic dysfunction were recruited. SAH was investigated using the anesthesia records. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed. Results A total of 163 patients were analyzed. SAH and significant SAH developed in 55 (33.7%) patients. The mitral inflow E velocity was an independent risk factor for SAH (odds ratio [OR], 0.886; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.845–0.929; P < 0.001). The area under the ROC curve for mitral inflow E velocity to predict SAH was 0.819 (95% CI, 0.752–0.875; P < 0.001). If mitral inflow E velocity was ≤ 60 cm/s, SAH was predicted with a sensitivity of 83.6% and specificity of 70.4%. Conclusions The preoperative mitral inflow E velocity demonstrated the greatest predictability of SAH in older patients with mild LV diastolic dysfunction. This may assist in identifying patients at high risk of SAH and guiding preventive strategies in the future.

Background: Spinal anesthesia can present various complications, one of which is the breakage of a spinal needle within the intrathecal space, which is one of the least frequent complications and it may be serious. A case of spinal needle breakage is presented, pointing out its risk factors and recommendations to reduce it. Clinical case: 25-year-old female patient, who was scheduled for removal of translocated intrauterine device causing chronic pain. When attempting a spinal anesthesia, stylet was removed from the needle and directed into the subarachnoid space. Upon extraction, the spinal needle was deformed and shortened. Immediately and with fluoroscopy and local anesthesia, the broken fragment was extracted without complications. Regional anesthesia is widely used in pregnant women, as it is considered safe. However, there are factors that increase the probability of a spinal needle breakage (obesity, pregnancy, emergency procedures, incorrect handling of the spinal needle, etc.). Even so, there are various recommendations (use of ultrasound, proper handling of the needle, reducing the number of attempts, etc.) that can reduce the risk of spinal needle breakage. Conclusion: Risk factors for spinal needle breakage should be identified, in order to decrease its incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & objective: Shoulder tip pain (STP) is a commonly observed, annoying and mostly neglected consequence of cesarean section and little is known as well as explored about intraoperative shoulder pain. We studied the effectiveness of activation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), by adding intrathecal fentanyl to the spinal anesthesia as a preventive analgesia for shoulder pain with cesarean section (CS). Methodology: A total of 44 parturients undergoing elective CS were divided into two equal groups; Group F patients received 2.5 ml of hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5 % and 25 µg fentanyl. Group C (control group) patients received 2.5 ml of hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5. The incidence and severity of intraoperative STP was noted. The severity of that pain was assessed using the verbal numerical rating scale (0-10) at the time of complaint. The STP was monitored every 2 h for 8 h postoperatively. Results: There was no statistical difference in the incidence and severity of STP in both groups. The average for diastolic blood pressure was 74 ± 6.5 mmHg in Group C vs 72 ± 8.5 mmHg in Group F and the average for the heart rate was 84 ± 6 bpm vs 79 ± 12 bpm in Group C and F respectively. Point biserial correlation revealed a positive correlation (0.3) between t STP and total blood loss; however, this correlation wasn’t statistically significant (P = 0.06). Conclusion: Activation of G protein linked receptor by adding fentanyl to the local anesthetic for spinal anesthesia decrease the incidence of shoulder tip pain; however, the difference is statistically insignificant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Reduced lumbar lordosis may make the process of identifying the intervertebral distance easier. The primary aim of this study was to measure the L3...L4 intervertebral space in the same patients undergoing spinal anesthesia in three different sitting positions, including the classic sitting position (CSP), hamstring stretch position (HSP) and rider sitting position (RSP). The secondary aim was to compare ultrasonographic measurements of the depth of the ligamentum flavum and intrathecal space in these three defined positions. Methods: This study is a single-blinded, prospective, randomized study. Ninety patients were included in final analysis. the patients were positioned on the operating table in three different positions to perform ultrasonographic measurements of the spinal canal. The intervertebral distance (IVD), the distance between the skin and the ligamentum flavum (DBSLF) and the intrathecal space (IS) were measured in the L3...L4 intervertebral space in three different positions. Results: The RSP produced the largest mean distance between the spinous processes. The RSP yielded a significantly larger IVD than did the CSP (p < 0.001) and HSP (p < 0.001). The DBSP was larger in the CSP than in the HSP (p = 0.001). The DBSLF was significantly larger in the RSP than in the HSP (p = 0.009). Conclusions: Positioning the patient in the RSP significantly increased the intervertebral distance between L3...L4 vertebrae compared to the CSP and HSP, suggesting easier performance of lumbar neuraxial block.

Background: Several adjuvants, added to local anesthetics, were suggested to induce an ideal regional block with high-quality analgesia. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the particular blocking properties of low-dose bupivacaine in combination with meperidine and fentanyl in spinal anesthesia during Cesarean sections.Methods: A randomized, double-blind clinical trial was conducted at Hafez Hospital affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (Shiraz, Iran) from February 2015 to February 2016. A total of 120 pregnant women, who underwent spinal anesthesia during elective Cesarean section were enrolled in the study. Based on block-wise randomization, the patients were randomly assigned to three groups, namely “B” group received 2 mL bupivacaine 0.5% (10 mg), “BM” group received 8 mg bupivacaine and 10 mg meperidine, and “BF” group received 8 mg bupivacaine and 15 µg fentanyl intrathecally. The block onset, the duration of analgesia, and the time of discharge from the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) were all assessed. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 21, and P

Some surgeons have raised concerns regarding the sympathectomy-like effect of epidural anesthesia during lower limb microvascular reconstruction. The combined spinal-epidural (CSE) anesthetic technique incorporates several benefits of spinal and epidural techniques in a single approach. The aim of this study was to analyze the postoperative outcomes of patients undergoing soft-tissue reconstruction of the lower limb by implementing the CSE anesthesia approach. We reviewed medical records from patients who underwent lower limb reconstructive procedures under CSE anesthesia with free tissue transfer from January 2017 to December 2020. We evaluated the postoperative outcomes. Thirty-eight patients underwent microvascular reconstructive procedures of the lower extremity over the study period. The average age and BMI were 38.4-year and 28 kg/m2. All patients only had one postoperative rescue dose with epidural anesthesia. The most common type of flap used was the anterolateral thigh flap (53%). The average splinting time and length of stay (LoS) were 8.4 days and 18.4 days, respectively. Donor-site complications included wound dehiscence (3%) and surgical site infection (3%). Recipient-site complications included partial flap loss (8%) and total flap loss (10%). No pro re nata morphine analgesia was used. Tramadol and/or ketoprofen were administered for postoperative analgesia. The average time to start physiotherapy and to resume daily activities were 10 days and 29 days, respectively. The CSE anesthesia for microvascular reconstruction of the lower limb demonstrated a similar success rate compared to historical records. CSE provided adequate pain management and none of the patients required postoperative monitoring in the ICU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Maternal hypotension is a common consequence of spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery (CD). A vasopressor is recommended in addition to adequate fluid loading to raise mean arterial pressure in pregnant women. Phenylephrine, a pure a-adrenergic receptor agonist, is the first-line agent to manage it. However, phenylephrine is associated with dose-dependent reflex bradycardia and decreased cardiac output. Noradrenaline is suggested as an alternative due to its mild beta-adrenergic effect, which results in a greater heart rate and cardiac output than phenylephrine. We compared the effectiveness and adverse effects of intermittent boluses of noradrenaline with phenylephrine to treat spinal-induced hypotension during CD. Methodology: A randomized controlled trial was conducted at Bach Mai Hospital, Vietnam, from May 2020 to August 2020. There were 120 pregnant women undergoing elective CD under spinal anesthesia enrolled in the study and divided randomly into two groups: the Group N and the Group P. Group N patients were given noradrenaline 6 µg as an intravenous bolus, and Group P patients were given phenylephrine 100 µg to treat spinal-induced hypotension. The primary outcome was the number of bolus doses of vasopressors needed to treat maternal hypotension. Secondary outcomes were bradycardia, hypertension, nausea, vomiting, umbilical arterial blood gases, and APGAR scores. Results: The number of boluses of vasopressors needed to treat hypotension and maternal hemodynamic changes was equivalent in both groups. The incidence of bradycardia, nausea, and vomiting in the two groups was not significantly different. No pregnant woman suffered from unintended hypertension. APGAR scores were 7 and above at one min and 10 and above at five min for all cases. There were no differences in umbilical arterial pH values between the two groups (7.33 vs. 7.34; P > 0.05). Conclusion: Noradrenaline 6 µg and phenylephrine 100 µg boluses were equally effective in treating spinal-induced hypotension in parturients undergoing cesarean delivery with similar neonatal and maternal outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Objective: Spinal anesthesia (SA) has been preferred for transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) due to various advantages over general anesthesia. The most commonly used drug for SA is bupivacaine, but recently ropivacaine has been introduced with better hemodynamic profile. Dexmedetomidine is sedative-analgesic, and can be used through multiple routes. We compared low dose ropivacaine plus dexmedetomidine vs. low dose bupivacaine for SA in TURP. Methodology: This comparative, cross-sectional study was conducted at Anesthesia Department of Combined Military Hospital, Lahore, from December 2021 to June 2022. A total of 197 patients, planned to undergo TURP under SA were included in the study. The patients were randomly allotted to one of the two groups by lottery method and using concealed envelops. Group RD took low dose ropivacaine (7.5 to 10 mg) plus dexmedetomidine (5 µg) and in Group B low dose bupivacaine (7.5 to 10 mg) was used for spinal anesthesia. Parameters of efficacy and safety were compared in both groups during and immediately after the surgery to look for better option among the two regimes. Results: Out of 197 patients randomized into two groups, Group RD, 99 (50.2%) took low dose ropivacaine (7.5 to 10 mg) plus dexmedetomidine (5 µg) and 98 (49.8%) took low dose bupivacaine (7.5 to 10 mg) for spinal anesthesia. Mean age of patients who underwent TURP in our study was 61.66 ± 7.88 y. Hemodynamic instability and requirement of opiate analgesia was not significantly different in both the groups (P > 0.05) while all other efficacy parameters were better in patients who took low dose ropivacaine plus dexmedetomidine (P < 0.05) as compared to those who only took low dose bupivacaine. Conclusion: Both groups showed no difference in safety parameters related to hemodynamic stability but the anesthesia profile was better in patients who took low dose ropivacaine plus dexmedetomidine as compared to the bupivacaine group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Spinal anesthesia has been the preferred type of anesthesia for cesarean sections and other obstetric operations. Bupivacaine has been used for this purpose being long acting. Lately various narcotic analgesics have been added to prolong the analgesia and reduce the expected toxicity of bupivacaine alone. We evaluated the duration of analgesia achieved with the combination of bupivacaine-buprenorphine versus bupivacaine alone in cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia. Methods: A comparative study was conducted at a tertiary care teaching healthcare center in Karachi, Pakistan. One hundred patients scheduled for elective cesarean section were enrolled and divided into two groups. Group A received 10 mg of hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5% along with normal saline, while Group B received the same dose of bupivacaine along with buprenorphine 75 µg. Preoperative assessment, intraoperative procedures, and postoperative management were performed following standard protocols of our institution. Statistical analysis was conducted using independent t-tests and chi-square tests. Results: The findings revealed significantly longer mean time to request for analgesia in Group B compared to Group A (825.33 min vs. 166.78 min; P = 0.182), Only 14 patients in Group B (28%) required analgesia within 24 h, while all patients in Group A requested analgesia within that time frame (P = 0.0001). Moreover, an insignificantly lower incidence of hypotension and reduced need for phenylephrine administration was observed in Group B compared to Group A (P = 0.585). Group B also demonstrated a lower incidence of nausea (P = 0.380) and vomiting (P = 0.370) compared to Group A, but the difference was statistically not significant. Conclusion: This study suggests that the addition of buprenorphine to bupivacaine in spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery provides prolonged analgesia, reduces the incidence of nausea and vomiting, and decreases the need for vasopressor administration. These findings support the potential benefits of using the bupivacaine-buprenorphine combination in cesarean deliveries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Neurológica Colombiana is the property of Colombian Association of Neurology / Asociacion Colombiana de Neurologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract Background An algorithm of bupivacaine dose based on height is applied to reduce maternal hypotension in caesarean section under spinal anesthesia. This study is designed to further verify whether the algorithm of bupivacaine dose based on height is suitable. Methods The parturients were grouped according to height. The comparison of anesthesia characteristic among subgroups was carried out. The univariate and multivariate binary logistic regressions were executed to reanalyze the interference factor for the anesthesia characteristic. Results When the dose of bupivacaine was adjusted by using the height based dosing algorithm, except for weight (P 0.05); the incidences of complications, characteristics of sensory or motor block, quality of anesthesia and neonatal outcome were of no statistical difference among parturients with different heights (P > 0.05); the height, weight and body mass index were not related with maternal hypotension (P > 0.05). When the dose of bupivacaine is constant, except for weight and body mass index (P > 0.05), the height was the independent risk factor for maternal hypotension (P

The authors report a case of newly manifested severe junctional bradycardia following dexmedetomidine administration during spinal anesthesia in a polypharmacy patient. A 77-year-old woman receiving multiple medications, including a beta-blocker and a calcium channel blocker, underwent right total knee arthroplasty. After spinal anesthesia, intravenous dexmedetomidine was initiated as a sedative; her heart rate decreased, followed by junctional bradycardia (heart rate, 37–41 beats/min). Dexmedetomidine was discontinued, and a dopamine infusion was initiated. Seven hours after surgery, junctional bradycardia persisted; a temporary transvenous pacemaker was inserted, and the beta-blocker and calcium channel blocker were discontinued. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 11 without any sequelae. Anesthesiologists should be aware of dexmedetomidine’s inhibitory effects on the cardiac conduction system, especially in geriatric patients taking medications with negative chronotropic effects and in combination with neuraxial anesthesia.

Introduction: Spinal infusions of either fentanyl or sufentanil have been reported in international reports, articles, and scientific events worldwide. This study aimed to determine whether intrathecal fentanyl or sufentanil offers safety in mortality and perioperative adverse events. Methods: MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE, CENTRAL (Cochrane library databases), gray literature, hand-searching, and clinicaltrials.gov were systematically searched. Randomized controlled trials with no language, data, or status restrictions were included, comparing the effectiveness and safety of adding spinal lipophilic opioid to local anesthetics (LAs). Data were pooled using the random-effects models or fixed-effect models based on heterogeneity. Results: The initial search retrieved 4469 records; 3241 records were eligible, and 3152 articles were excluded after reading titles and abstracts, with a high agreement rate (98.6%). After reading the full texts, 76 articles remained. Spinal fentanyl and sufentanil significantly reduced postoperative pain and opioid consumption, increased analgesia and pruritus. Fentanyl, but not sufentanil, significantly reduced both postoperative nausea and vomiting, and postoperative shivering; compared to LAs alone. The analyzed studies did not report any case of in-hospital mortality related to spinal lipophilic opioids. The rate of respiratory depression was 0.7% and 0.8% when spinal fentanyl or sufentanil was added and when it was not, respectively. Episodes of respiratory depression were rare, uneventful, occurred intraoperatively, and were easily manageable. Conclusion: There is moderate to high quality certainty that there is evidence regarding the safety and effectiveness of adding lipophilic opioids to LAs in spinal anesthesia.

Copyright of Agri: Journal of the Turkish Society of Algology / Türk Algoloji (Ağrı) Derneği'nin Yayın Organıdır is the property of KARE Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

OBJECTIVE: to determine the more effective dose of intramuscular (IM) Phenylephrine in preventing hypotension due to spinal anesthesia (SA) administered for cesarean section. METHODS: The study was conducted from January1, 2020 to July 31, 2020, at Rehman Medical Institute, Peshawar, Pakistan. Sixty participants of American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status 1 and 2, scheduled for elective cesarean section (CS) under SA were enrolled in this prospective double-blind study and randomized into two equal groups, P4-group and P8-group. P4-group received IM Phenylephrine 04 mg and P8-group received IM Phenylephrine 08 mg before SA. The incidence and intensity of hypotension, rescue doses of Phenylephrine and any adverse event, were recorded. Data collected was analyzed using Epi lnfo ™ version 7.2.5. RESULTS: Mean age of patients from P4-Group and P8-Group was 28.10±4.39 years and 28.33±4.95 years respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in the two groups with respect to demographic and clinical characteristics. Hypotension occurred in 33.3% (n=20/60) of participants. The incidence of hypotension in P4-group and P8-group were 46.7% (n=14/30) and 20% (n=6/30) respectively. In P8-group, risk of hypotension was 1.5 times less common compared with P4-group with 95% confidence interval of 1.02–2.19 (p=0.02). There was also no statistically significant difference between the onset of hypotension in the two groups. Those who developed hypotension had consumed a lesser amount of rescue Phenylephrine in P8-group compared with P4-group (p-value

Background: An algorithm of bupivacaine dose based on height is applied to reduce maternal hypotension in caesarean section under spinal anesthesia. This study is designed to further verify whether the algorithm of bupivacaine dose based on height is suitable. Methods: The parturients were grouped according to height. The comparison of anesthesia characteristic among subgroups was carried out. The univariate and multivariate binary logistic regressions were executed to reanalyze the interference factor for the anesthesia characteristic. Results: When the dose of bupivacaine was adjusted by using the height based dosing algorithm, except for weight (P < 0.05), other general data did not present statistical changes with height (P > 0.05); the incidences of complications, characteristics of sensory or motor block, quality of anesthesia and neonatal outcome were of no statistical difference among parturients with different heights (P > 0.05); the height, weight and body mass index were not related with maternal hypotension (P > 0.05). When the dose of bupivacaine is constant, except for weight and body mass index (P > 0.05), the height was the independent risk factor for maternal hypotension (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Except for weight and body mass index, the height has an influence on the bupivacaine dose. It is reasonable that the bupivacaine dose is adjusted by using this dosing algorithm based on height. Trial Registration: This study was registered at http://clinicaltrials.gov (13/04/2018, NCT03497364). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maximum decrease of blood pressure and number of minutes of hypotension were independently associated with umbilical arterial pH. However, the impact of hypotension considering the duration of it on umbilical arterial pH is unknown. Methods: Pregnant women aged ≥ 20 years who delivered a baby at full-term via a cesarean delivery under a single-shot spinal anesthesia between January 2017 and March 2019 were included. The main outcome was to predict umbilical arterial pH, based on the value of the time integral of hypotension. Patient demographics, patient comorbidities, and intraoperative data, including the total dose of ephedrine and phenylephrine by fetal delivery and cumulative duration of maternal hypotension, were evaluated. Maternal hypotension was reflected as a decrease in systolic arterial pressure and mean arterial pressure to < 80% of baseline values. The systolic arterial pressure and mean arterial pressure were independently included in a multiple regression analysis along with all other explanatory factors to predict the umbilical arterial pH. Results: Of the 416 eligible patients, 381 were enrolled. When including the systolic arterial pressure or mean arterial pressure in the model, emergency cases, the total dose of ephedrine, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and systolic arterial pressure or mean arterial pressure values were found to be significant predictive factors of umbilical arterial pH. Conclusion: Our results suggest that an elevated time integral of maternal hypotension may have a negative impact on umbilical arterial pH. Therefore, to minimize the risk of fetal acidosis, maternal hypotension should be prevented with the consideration of vasopressors selection.

Introduction: This study evaluated the importance of examining neuraxial anatomy by preprocedural ultrasonography to ensure effective spinal anesthesia administration, which can be technically challenging in geriatric patients owing to their physiological and pathological conditions. Materials and Methods: Geriatric patients with an American Society of Anesthesiologists' physical classification of I-III undergoing elective surgery under spinal anesthesia were included. The patients were divided into two groups: the anatomical landmark-guided group and the ultrasound-assisted group. Spinal block application times, number of attempts and number of needle redirections were recorded. Results: Among the studied patients, 29 and 30 patients were included in the anatomical landmark-guided group and the ultrasound-assisted group groups, respectively. There was no significant difference in the mean age of the patients in the ultrasound-assisted group (74.6 ± 7.41 years) and the anatomical landmark-guided group (75.6 ± 7.52 years). Assisted procedure time and total operative time were significantly shorter in the anatomical landmark-guided group than in the ultrasound-assisted group (p<0.001 and p<0.05, respectively); however, spinal application times and number of trials and needle redirections were significantly lower in the ultrasound-assisted group than in the anatomical landmark-guided group (p<0.05 and p <0.05, respectively). Conclusion: Preprocedural ultrasonography before spinal anesthesia administration increases the first-attempt success rate and decreases the number of attempts and needle redirections in geriatric patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is a major cause of maternal mortality and the risk factors for PPH differ among studies. In this large-scale study, we investigated whether the anesthetic method used was associated with PPH after cesarean section. Methods We extracted data on cesarean sections performed between January 2008 and June 2013 from the National Health Insurance Service database. The anesthetic methods were categorized into general, spinal and epidural anesthesia. To compare the likelihood of PPH among deliveries using different anesthetic methods, crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using logistic regression analysis. Results Data from 330,324 cesarean sections were analyzed, and 21,636 cases of PPH were identified. Univariate analysis showed that general and epidural anesthesia increased the risk of PPH compared to spinal anesthesia. The OR for PPH was highest for morbidly adherent placenta, followed by placenta previa, placental abruption, and hypertension. When other clinical covariates were controlled for, general and epidural anesthesia still remained significant risk factors for PPH compared to spinal anesthesia. Conclusions This study showed that general and epidural anesthesia elevated the risk of PPH compared to spinal anesthesia during cesarean section. Since we could not consider the potential bias of group differences in indications, more in-depth clinical trials are needed to validate our findings. Obstetric factors such as placental abnormalities had high odds ratios and thus are more important than the choice of anesthetic method, which should be based on the patient’s clinical condition and institutional resources.

Background Differences in the effects of propofol and dexmedetomidine sedation on electroencephalogram patterns have been reported previously. However, the reliability of the Bispectral Index (BIS) value for assessing the sedation caused by dexmedetomidine remains debatable. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the correlation between the BIS value and the Modified Observer’s Assessment of Alertness/Sedation (MOAA/S) scale in patients sedated with dexmedetomidine. Methods Forty-two patients aged 20–80 years, who were scheduled for surgery under spinal anesthesia were enrolled. Spinal anesthesia was performed using 0.5% bupivacaine, which was followed by dexmedetomidine infusion (loading dose, 0.5–1 μg/kg for 10 min; maintenance dose, 0.3–0.6 μg/kg/h). The MOAA/S score was used to evaluate the level of sedation. Results A total of 215082 MOAA/S scores and BIS data pairs were analyzed. The baseline variability of the BIS value was 7.024%, and BIS value decreased, as the MOAA/S scored decreased. The correlation coefficient and prediction probability between the two measurements were 0.566 (P < 0.0001) and 0.636, respectively. The mean ± standard deviation values of the BIS were 87.22 ± 7.06, 75.85 ± 9.81, and 68.29 ± 12.65 when the MOAA/S scores were 5, 3, and 1, respectively. Furthermore, the cut-off BIS values in the receiver operating characteristic analysis at MOAA/S scores of 5, 3, and 1 were 82, 79, and 73, respectively. Conclusions The BIS values were significantly correlated with the MOAA/S scores. Thus, the BIS along with the clinical sedation scale might prove useful in assessing the hypnotic depth of a patient during sedation with dexmedetomidine.

Background: Spinal anesthesia (SA) is the preferred anesthesia modality for total joint arthroplasty (TJA). However, studies establishing SA as preferential may be subject to selection bias given that general anesthesia (GA) is often selectively utilized on more difficult, higher-risk operations. The optimal comparison group, therefore, is the patient converted to GA due to a failed attempt at SA. The purpose of this study was to determine risk factors and outcomes following failed SA with conversion to GA during primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA)., Methods: A consecutive cohort of 4,483 patients who underwent primary TJA at our institution was identified (2,004 THA and 2,479 TKA). Of these patients, 3,307 underwent GA (73.8%), 1,056 underwent SA (23.3%), and 130 patients failed SA with conversion to GA (2.90%). Primary outcomes included rescue analgesia requirement in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU), time to ambulation, pain scores in the PACU, estimated blood loss, and 90-day complications., Results: Risk factors for SA failure included older age and a higher comorbidity burden. Failure of SA was associated with increased estimated blood loss, rescue intravenous opioid use, and time to ambulation when compared to the successful SA group in both THA and TKA patients (P < .001). The anesthesia modality was not associated with significant differences in PACU pain scores. The 90-day complication rate was similar between the failed SA and GA groups. There was a higher incidence of postoperative pain prompting unplanned visits and thromboembolism when comparing failed SA to successful SA in both THA and TKA patients (P < .05)., Conclusions: In our series, patients who had failed SA demonstrated inferior outcomes to patients receiving successful SA and similar outcomes to patients receiving GA who did not have an SA attempt. This emphasizes the importance of success in the initial attempt at SA for optimizing outcomes following TJA., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Previous research has demonstrated that real-time ultrasound-guided (UG) spinal anesthesia requires a higher minimum local anesthetic dose (MLAD) compared to traditional methods. However, the precise MLAD of ropivacaine for UG cesarean sections remains undetermined. In this study, we ascertained the MLAD of ropivacaine for cesarean section. We also investigated the mechanism underlying the diffusion of ropivacaine within the spinal canal using fluid simulation technology., Patients and Methods: We randomly placed 60 healthy parturients undergoing elective cesarean section with real-time UG spinal anesthesia into Groups I (26-gauge spinal needle) and II (24-gauge spinal needle). For the first parturient in both groups, 15 mg of ropivacaine was administered intrathecally. Based on the effective or ineffective response of the previous parturient, the dose for the subsequent parturient was increased or decreased by 1 mg. Spinal anesthesia characteristics and side effects were recorded. A computer-generated spinal canal model was developed. Leveraging fluid dynamics simulation technology, we documented the diffusion of ropivacaine in the spinal canal using 26-and 24-gauge spinal needles., Results: The MLADs in Groups I and II were 12.728 mg (12.339-13.130 mg) and 9.795 mg (9.491-10.110 mg), respectively. No significant difference was observed in the onset times and durations of sensory or motor blocks, incidence of complications, or neonatal Apgar scores between both groups. Fluid simulation modeling indicated that the 26-gauge spinal needle achieved a higher distribution level more quickly; however, its peak drug concentration was lower compared to the 24-gauge spinal needle., Conclusion: For cesarean section anesthetization, the required MLAD of ropivacaine when using a real-time UG 26-gauge spinal needle is significantly greater than that with a 24-gauge needle. The spinal needle diameter influences ropivacaine's MLAD by markedly affecting its diffusion rate within the spinal canal., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work., (© 2024 Zheng et al.)

Toe pulp flap surgery is a viable option for soft tissue defects of the fingertips, effectively addressing patient needs and fingertip characteristics. The preferred anesthesia for lower-extremity surgery includes spinal and regional anesthesia. However, the choice between these methods depends on patient safety and surgical efficacy. In this retrospective study, we aimed to ascertain the optimal anesthetic technique by examining the efficacy, safety, pain control, and potential side effects of spinal and peripheral nerve block anesthetics. We included 40 patients aged 18-60 years who underwent partial second toe pulp free flap surgery for fingertip reconstruction. Twenty patients received spinal anesthesia (SA), while the remaining 20 received peripheral nerve block anesthesia. We conducted a comparative analysis of postoperative pain scores, adverse effects, analgesic usage, and patient satisfaction scores associated with each anesthesia method. Independent t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and chi-squared test were performed. The SA group exhibited hypotension, bradycardia, urinary retention, and postdural puncture headache rates of 10%, 10%, 5%, and 5%, respectively. A significant difference in the timing of first analgesic use was observed (spinal, 3.7 ± 0.8 vs. peripheral nerve block, 13.2 ± 6.6; P = 0.006). Visual analog scale (VAS) scores of the patients at the 2nd, 4th, and 6th h were significantly lower in the peripheral nerve block group (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, respectively). VAS scores at 12 and 24 h were similar between the groups (P = 0.07, P = 0.135, respectively). Peripheral nerve block anesthesia is superior to SA for partial second toe pulp free flap surgery, offering lower complication rates, reduced postoperative pain, and improved patient comfort.

Introduction: Infection is among the most common reasons for revision after a total joint arthroplasty (TJA) and is associated with notable morbidity and mortality rates. As the demand for TJA increases, a concurrent increase in the prevalence of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is also expected to rise. While previous studies have explored differences in postoperative outcomes between general and spinal anesthesia, there is limited data on the use of regional blocks in patients undergoing revision joint arthroplasty for PJI. This study evaluated the postoperative outcomes of patients undergoing revision TJA for PJI using regional blocks., Methods: Data from 518 patients were retrospectively collected. Patients included in the study had undergone revision TJA for PJI from January 2004 to January 2023 at a single institution. Patients undergoing same-day bilateral revisions, above-knee amputations, and aseptic revisions were excluded. Postoperative complications investigated included local complications, postoperative transfusion, wound complication, readmission, sepsis, systemic infection, spinal infection, death, persistent PJI, periprosthetic fracture, and unplanned revision surgery. Chi-square analysis was used to compare postoperative complications between procedures that used spinal or general anesthesia with regional blocks and those with spinal or general anesthesia without regional blocks., Results: Of the 518 patients who underwent revision TJA, 63 (12.2%) used a regional block. After surgery, 12.7% (n = 8) of patients with regional block and 23.5% (n = 107) of patients without regional block experienced persistent PJI (P = 0.076). No significant differences in wound complication (P = 0.333), readmission (P = 0.998), revision surgery (P = 0.783), and death (P = 0.588) were found between those with and without regional block use. Sepsis (P = 0.224), systemic infection (P = 0.220), and spinal infection (P = 0.998) rates within 1 year after revision TJA for PJI surgery were comparable between the two groups. No local infections were observed at the block site. A subanalysis comparing spinal and general anesthesia demonstrated comparable persistent PJI postoperatively and complication rates; however, spinal anesthesia use was associated with shorter length of stay (P = 0.003) and lower transfusion rates (P = 0.002)., Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the use of regional block is not associated with an increased probability of postoperative persistent PJI, local wound complication, readmission, spinal/systemic/other infections, death, or revision surgery. Surgeons can comfortably choose regional block as a safe option for revision surgery for PJI. Consistent with previous research, patients who received spinal anesthesia had shorter hospital stays and lower transfusion rates when compared with those who received general anesthesia., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.)

Background: Post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) is the most common complication following spinal anesthesia among parturients undergoing cesarean section surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of acetaminophen and caffeine in preventing PDPH., Methods: This double-blind, randomized clinical trial was conducted on 96 obstetric women, who were candidates for elective cesarean section. Following the randomization of participants into two groups, participants in the intervention group received tablets of acetaminophen (500 mg)+caffeine (65 mg), and participants in the control group received placebo tablets orally 2 hours before spinal anesthesia induction and then every 6 hours after surgery up to 24 hours. All parturients were evaluated for frequency and intensity of PDPH every 6 hours until 24 hours after surgery and then 48 and 72 hours after surgery. Overall satisfaction during the first 72 hours of postpartum was evaluated. The data were analyzed using SPSS software. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant., Results: Participants in the intervention group were 70% less likely to experience PDPH after spinal anesthesia (OR=0.31 P=0.01, 95% CI [0.12-0.77]). They also experienced significantly milder headaches 18 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours later. Participants in the intervention group reported higher levels of satisfaction at the end of the study (P=0.01). No side effects related to the intervention were reported., Conclusion: Prophylactic administration of acetaminophen+caffeine decreases 70% the risk of PDPH and significantly attenuates pain intensity in obstetric patients who underwent spinal anesthesia for cesarean section., Competing Interests: Mohammad Ali Sahmeddini and Naeimehossadat Asmarian, as the Editorial Board Members, were not involved in any stage of handling this manuscript. A team of independent experts was formed by the Editorial Board to review the article without their knowledge., (Copyright: © Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences.)

Background & objective: Perioperative shivering after spinal anesthesia for cesarean section is a common and unpleasant complication. Currently pethidine is being used but the search continues to look for other agents with faster action and with fewer side effects. Tramadol is a potential anti-shivering drug with modulation of central thermoregulation. We compared the efficacy of tramadol versus pethidine in the treatment of perioperative shivering of patients undergoing cesarean section under spinal anesthesia. Methodology: After institutional ethical review committee approval, 42 patients undergoing cesarean section under spinal anesthesia, who experienced shivering, were randomized into two groups, Group T (n = 21) received 1 mg/kg tramadol and Group P (n = 21) received 0.5 mg/kg pethidine. The outcome measures included the time taken to cessation of shivering after the medication, recurrence of shivering and the incidence of side effects. Results: The parturients with mean age 30.2 ± 5.2 y and body mass index (BMI) 29.9 ± 4.9 kg/m2 were recruited with comparable data between the two groups. Median time taken from drug administration until cessation of shivering of the tramadol group was faster than the pethidine group (7 min vs 13 min, P = 0.049). However, there was no significant difference in terms of the number of recurrences of shivering (P = 0.606) and incidence of nausea (P = 0.19) between the two groups. Conclusion: Intravenous tramadol has faster alleviation of perioperative shivering than intravenous pethidine in the treatment of perioperative shivering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Spinal anesthesia is one of the oldest and most commonly used regional anesthesia techniques. It is based on the injection of a local anesthetic into the subarachnoid space, during which there is a transient interruption of impulse conduction in the spinal nerve roots. Application of spinal anesthesia. The use of spinal anesthesia depends on the following factors: the site of the surgical procedure, the type and duration of the surgical procedure, the degree of necessary surgical relaxation, and presence of accompanying diseases. Local anesthetics used in spinal anesthesia. There are two types local anesthetics used in spinal anesthesia. These are local anesthetics of the ester and amide type. Most frequently applied local anesthetics are those of the amide type. Orthopedic procedures under spinal anesthesia. The most common surgical procedures in orthopedic surgery performed under spinal anesthesia are hip, knee and ankle surgeries. Complications of spinal anesthesia. The most common complications of spinal anesthesia are hypotension, bradycardia, urinary retention, and postpuncture headache. Conclusion. The advantages of spinal over general anesthesia in orthopedic surgery include lower incidence of respiratory and myocardial depression, better peripheral tissue perfusion, minimal coagulation system disorders and prolonged postoperative analgesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sensorineural hearing loss following spinal anaesthesia, epidural anaesthesia or lumbar puncture is a rare phenomenon that is thought to occur when reduced cerebrospinal fluid pressure is transmitted to the inner ear through an enlarged cochlear aqueduct. Method: This study presents two cases of sensorineural hearing loss following spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section as well as presenting results of a systemic review of the available literature using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Full-text articles from Medline, PubMed and Embase were used, as well as associated reference lists. Risk factors associated with poorer outcomes and an approach to management of this rare condition are also discussed. Results: Twenty-one cases were identified. The literature was systematically reviewed showing presentations, investigations performed, treatments offered and outcomes. Conclusion: Sensorineural hearing loss following spinal anaesthesia, epidural anaesthesia or lumbar puncture is a rare occurrence that requires a high degree of clinical suspicion and prompt investigation and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Introduction: The delayed extubation of patients undergoing mechanical ventilation (MV) in the postoperative period of cardiac surgery (CS) is associated with mortality. The adoption of spinal anesthesia (SA) combined with general anesthesia in CS influences the orotracheal intubation time (OIT). This study aims to verify if the adoption of SA reduces the time of MV after CS, compared to general anesthesia (GA) alone. Methods: Two hundred and seventeen CS patients were divided into two groups. The GA group included 108 patients (age: 56±1 years, 66 males) and the SA group included 109 patients (age: 60±13 years, 55 males). Patients were weaned from MV and, after clinical evaluation, extubated. Results: In the SA group, considering a 13-month period, 24% of the patients were extubated in the operating room (OR), compared to 10% in the GA group (P=0.00). The OIT was lower in the SA group than in the GA group (SA: 4.4±5.9 hours vs. GA: 6.0±5.6 hours, P=0.04). In July/2017, where all surgeries were performed in the GA regimen, only 7.1% of the patients were extubated in the OR. In July/2018, 94% of the surgeries were performed under SA, and 64.7% of the patients were extubated in the OR (P=0.00). The OIT on arrival at the intensive care unit to extubation, comparing July/2017 to July/2018, was 5.3±5.3 hours in the GA group vs. 1.7±3.9 hours in the SA group (P=0.04). Conclusion: The adoption of SA in CS increased the frequency of extubations in the OR and decreased OIT and MV time.

Intracranial subdural hematoma (SDH) formation is an uncommon but serious complication of planned or unintentional dural puncture (DP) during straight epidural anesthesia, combined spinal-epidural, dural puncture epidural, or spinal anesthesia. Diagnosis of intracranial SDH following neuraxial anesthesia may be delayed or misdiagnosed due to rare occurrence, lack of knowledge, as well as an overlap in clinical presentation with postdural puncture headache (PDPH). Increased awareness of intracranial SDH as a complication of DP may result in earlier recognition and prevention of potentially devastating outcomes. This article reviews the relevant literature on association of neuraxial anesthesia with intracranial SDH formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Objective: Spinal anesthesia (SA) administered for non-ophthalmic operative surgeries has been associated with ophthalmological disorders in up to 0.2% cases. However, the incidence of medical lawsuits related to these issues amounts to 2-3%, which suggests a probable higher frequency of such violations. This study was conducted to find the nature of ophthalmological disorders during SA and risk factors for their development during non-ophthalmic surgical interventions. Methodology: A prospective cohort non-intervention study was carried out in 150 adult patients undergone non-ophthalmic surgical interventions under SA for analysis of state of the visual organs during SA. Results: Ophthalmological disorders after SA were recorded in 6.7% of the patients. These disorders were of a transient nature and were no threat to the development of life-threatening dysfunctions or persistent disablement. They were directly related to the level of systemic arterial pressure. A correlation analysis demonstrated the presence of relation between the reduction in ophthalmotonus and perfusion pressure of the eyes and the administration of 0.5% bupivacaine (R = 0.7, p = 0.01). Conclusion: The results of our study prove that the individuals with prior visual organ disorders are expected to have a relatively high incidence of ophthalmological complications after spinal anesthesia, requiring the individualization of anesthesia regimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrasonography can be useful to perform a lumbar neuraxial block. It aids in understanding the anatomy of the lumbar spine before the procedure. Pre-procedural ultrasound imaging provides information about the accurate intervertebral level for puncture, optimal needle insertion point, and depth of needle advancement for a successful neuraxial block. The key ultrasonographic views for lumbar neuraxial block include the transverse midline interlaminar and parasagittal oblique views. Ultrasonography can facilitate lumbar neuraxial block in difficult cases, such as the elderly, obese patients, and patients with anatomical abnormality of the lumbar spine. This review elucidates the basics of spinal ultrasonography for lumbar neuraxial block and the current evidence regarding ultrasound-guided neuraxial block in adults.

Background As an anesthesia induced during cesarean section, spinal anesthesia is preferred over general and epidural anesthesia. This study aimed to review the trend of anesthetic methods for cesarean section based on data obtained from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service from 2013 to 2018. Methods The anesthetic methods were analyzed in 753,285 parturients who underwent a cesarean section in Korea from 2013 to 2018. We determined the association between each anesthetic method and hospital type and maternal and fetal factors. We also evaluated whether the anesthetic method was associated with the parturients’ length of hospital stay. Results General anesthesia, spinal anesthesia, and epidural anesthesia were induced in 28.8%, 47.7%, and 23.6% of parturients from 2013 to 2018, respectively. Trend analyses showed that spinal anesthesia increased from 40.0% in 2013 to 53.7% in 2018. The opposite trend applied to general anesthesia, decreasing from 37.1% in 2013 to 22.2% in 2018. The factors that were significantly associated with the anesthetic method were parturient’s parity, emergency condition, gestational age, and fetal weight. The type of hospital, parturient’s age, and multiple birth were also associated with the anesthetic methods. There was a strong association between general anesthesia and hospital stay longer than 7 days. Conclusions Spinal anesthesia is currently the main anesthetic method used for cesarean delivery, and the rate of spinal anesthesia is gradually increasing in Korea.

Background: This study aimed to compare the anti-shivering effects of 100 mg and 200 mg oral celecoxib with control group undergoing orthopedic lower extremity surgeries under spinal anesthesia. Methods: In a randomized double-blinded clinical trial study that was conducted at Ayatollah Kashani hospital in Isfahan, Iran, the patients undergoing elective orthopedic surgery of the lower extremity under spinal anesthesia with class 1 stage based on the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) scale, were evaluated. The first group received placebo tablets, the second group received 100 mg oral celecoxib, and the third group received 200 mg oral celecoxib 3 hours prior to spinal anesthesia. Incidence and intensity of shivering was compared 10 minutes after the anesthesia, and every 15 minutes until the end of surgery in all three groups. Findings: A significant difference was observed between the three groups at all periods of time (P < 0.05). The group receiving 200 mg celecoxib experienced the less shivering. Conclusion: A dose of 200 mg oral celecoxib was reported to be more effective on shivering during and after the orthopedic lower extremity surgery in patients under spinal anesthesia as compared to 100 mg oral celecoxib and the control group.

Background: Studies have reported lower pain threshold, spinal anesthesia duration, and level of sensoryblock in addicts compared to non-addict patients undergoing spinal anesthesia for surgery. Moreover, bloodgas and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were likely to be affected as well. The aim in the present study is to evaluateCSF and spinal parameters in addict versus non-addict patients during lower limb surgery.Methods: In this case-control study, 22 opium addicts and 22 sex- and age- matched non-addicts undergoinglower limb surgery under spinal anesthesia were included. The CSF parameters, venous blood gas (VBG), andsensory and motor block findings were compared between the groups.Findings: The addict and non-addict patients were similar regarding CSF and blood gas parameters excepthigher pH in VBG (7.39 ± 0.06 vs. 7.33 ± 0.11, P = 0.030) and CSF (7.39 ± 0.06 vs. 7.33 ± 0.11, P = 0.030) foraddict patients. The addict patients had significantly later onset of sensory block (5.72 ± 1.57 vs. 3.16 ± 0.93minutes, P < 0.001) and shorter motor block duration (137.72 ± 11.51 vs. 149.09 ± 14.44 minutes, P = 0.006),with no significant difference in the sensory block duration and motor block onset.Conclusion: Addict patients have delayed onset of sensory block with shorter duration of motor block and lowersensory block level. Among the blood gas and CSF markers, only pH was significantly higher in addict patients,needing further evaluations; however, it seems that addiction has no significant effect on these parameters.

Introduction. Anesthetic management of a patient with spinal muscular atrophy type II, who underwent elective cesarean section with neuraxial anesthesia is presented in this case report. Case report. A 33-year old woman with first pregnancy and no previous birth, at 39 weeks gestational age was scheduled for a cesarean section due to placenta previa. She had a history of spinal muscular atrophy type II, that confined her to a wheelchair, and a surgical history that included corrective surgery for kyphoscoliosis. The patient had predictors for a difficult intubation (limited mouth opening and reduced neck extension) so the decision was made to attempt the needle-through-needle combined spinal-epidural technique for surgical anesthesia. Harrington rods and scar tissue complicated placement of the combined spinal-epidural anesthesia, however successful placement was achieved. Conclusion. Spinal muscular atrophy in pregnancy is rare and represents big challenge for an anesthesiologist due to respiratory dysfunction, anticipated difficult intubation, severe kyphoscoliosis and limitations of the use neuromuscular blocking agents. The potential risks need to be considered when administering anesthesia in patients with spinal muscular atrophy undergoing a cesarean section.

Background: Task-sharing of spinal anaesthesia care by non-specialist graduate physicians, termed medical officers (MOs), is commonly practised in rural Indian healthcare facilities to mitigate workforce constraints. We sought to assess whether spinal anaesthesia failure rates of MOs were non-inferior to those of consultant anaesthesiologists (CA) following a standardised educational curriculum., Methods: We performed a randomised, non-inferiority trial in three rural hospitals in Tamil Nadu and Chhattisgarh, India. Patients aged over 18 years with low perioperative risk (ASA I & II) were randomised to receive MO or CA care. Prior to the trial, MOs underwent task-based anaesthesia training, inclusive of remotely accessed lectures, simulation-based training and directly observed anaesthetic procedures and intraoperative care. The primary outcome measure was spinal anaesthesia failure with a non-inferiority margin of 5%. Secondary outcome measures consisted of incidence of perioperative and postoperative complications., Findings: Between 12 July 2019 and 8 June 2020, a total of 422 patients undergoing surgical procedures amenable to spinal anaesthesia care were randomised to receive either MO (231, 54.7%) or CA care (191, 45.2%). Spinal anaesthesia failure rate for MOs (7, 3.0%) was non-inferior to those of CA (5, 2.6%); difference in success rate of 0.4% (95% CI=0.36-0.43%; p=0.80). Additionally, there were no statistically significant differences observed between the two groups for intraoperative or postoperative complications, or patients' experience of pain during the procedure., Interpretation: This study demonstrates that failure rates of spinal anaesthesia care provided by trained MOs are non-inferior to care provided by CAs in low-risk surgical patients. This may support policy measures that use task-sharing as a means of expanding anaesthesia care capacity in rural Indian hospitals., Trial Registration Number: NCT04438811., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate patients' expectative pain of spinal anesthesia puncture and anxiety pre-anesthesia, and to examine the effect of lidocaine-prilocaine cream and remimazolam prior to spinal anesthesia puncture on pain relief and anxiety release., Methods: Patients undergoing spinal anesthesia were divided into control, lidocaine-prilocaine cream, and lidocaine-prilocaine cream with remimazolam groups. A questionnaire consisting of The Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS) and patient's concerns and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to evaluate patient's anxiety and pain. The primary outcomes were differences in VAS and anxiety scores. Patient's spinal anesthesia-related concerns, advent events and hemodynamic index were also recorded., Results: The expected spinal anesthesia puncture pain was 5.34±0.27 and anxiety scores before spinal anesthesia was 10.88 ± 0.64. A statistically significant positive correlation of 31.3% was detected between VAS and APAIS scores (r = 0.313; P=0.003). The VAS score at the time of puncture decreased by 29.7% (3.78±0.40, P=0.001) in lidocaine-prilocaine cream group and 29.2% (3.75±0.39, P=0.001) in lidocaine-prilocaine cream with remimazolam group compared with the expected VAS score. Lidocaine-prilocaine cream combined with or without remimazolam reduced the percentage of moderate pain (21.4% and 31.3% vs 50.0%, P=0.0001) and increased mild pain (60.7% vs 59.4% vs 22.7%, P=0.03). Anxiety score in lidocaine-prilocaine cream group was reduced by 2.84 (8.04±0.76 vs 10.88 ± 0.46, P=0.05) when compared with pre-anesthesia. Concerns about postoperative pain (P=0.03) and fear of the needle or intervention (P=0.000) both decreased post-anesthesia among groups., Conclusion: Approximately half of the patients scheduled for spinal anesthesia experienced a moderate level of preoperative anxiety. The patient's pain expectation from the spinal anesthesia puncture was moderate, which was higher than the actual pain. Lidocaine-prilocaine cream with or without remimazolam sedative before spinal anesthesia puncture reduced the patient's pain and anxiety scores after surgery., (© 2024 Liang et al.)

Introduction: Spinal anesthesia (SA) is commonly used within the specialties of orthopedic surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, spine surgery, and general surgery, and offers several benefits over general anesthesia (GA). However, SA is used much less frequently in plastic surgery. This review analyzed currently existing data on SA use across various surgical specialties and compared the benefits and complications of SA to those of GA, to assess its utility and potential for more widespread use in plastic surgery., Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using the PubMed and Cochrane Library databases to evaluate the utility of SA in plastic surgery. Indications, contraindications, and data on the use of SA across various surgical specialties were reviewed. Benefits, complications, and cost-effectiveness were also assessed. Finally, the utility of SA in plastic surgery was evaluated based on the available literature., Results: SA has been shown to yield several benefits and fewer risks than GA, including a higher possibility of early discharge, decreased costs, better pain and postoperative nausea and vomiting control, and decreased risk of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism., Conclusion: Although commonly used for procedures across various surgical specialties such as obstetrics and gynecology, urology, and orthopedic surgery, SA is less frequently used within plastic surgery. Plastic surgery procedures that would benefit from the use of SA include those below the umbilicus such as liposuction, lower extremity procedures, and perineal procedures, and owing to its benefits, we recommend that SA be used more often within plastic surgery under appropriate clinical circumstances., (Copyright © 2024 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Guidelines recommend that health-related information for patients should be written at or below the sixth-grade level. We sought to evaluate the readability level and quality of online patient education materials regarding epidural and spinal anesthesia., Methods: We evaluated webpages with content written specifically regarding either spinal or epidural anesthesia, identified using 11 relevant search terms, with seven commonly used readability formulas: Flesh-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL), Gunning Fox Index (GFI), Coleman-Liau Index (CLI), Automated Readability Index (ARI), Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG), Flesch Reading Ease (FRE), and New Dale-Chall (NDC). Two evaluators assessed the quality of the reading materials using the Brief DISCERN tool., Results: We analyzed 261 webpages. The mean (standard deviation) readability scores were: FKGL = 8.8 (1.9), GFI = 11.2 (2.2), CLI = 10.3 (1.9), ARI = 8.1 (2.2), SMOG = 11.6 (1.6), FRE = 55.7 (10.8), and NDC = 5.4 (1.0). The mean grade level was higher than the recommended sixth-grade level when calculated with six of the seven readability formulas. The average Brief DISCERN score was 16.0., Conclusion: Readability levels of online patient education materials pertaining to epidural and spinal anesthesia are higher than recommended. When we evaluated the quality of the information using a validated tool, the materials were found to be just below the threshold of what is considered good quality. Authors of educational materials should provide not only readable but also good-quality information to enhance patient understanding., (© 2024. Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society.)

Purpose: Treatment with direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) is increasing among hip-fracture patients, with accompanying safety concerns regarding spinal anesthesia (SA). The aim of this study was to investigate if DOAC use is associated with increased waiting time before surgery, increased mortality, or other adverse events., Methods: Registry data on surgically treated hip-fracture cases at a single hospital between 2015 and 2021 were analyzed. Multivariable regression analyses were performed with DOAC-status and choice of anesthesia as exposures, and waiting time, length of stay, transfusion, and mortality as outcomes., Results: 2885 cases were included, 467 patients (16%) were using DOACs. DOAC users were older (86.3 vs. 82.2 years, p < 0.001), had a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (2.1 vs. 1.5, p < 0.001) and had longer median time to surgery than non-DOAC cases (36 h vs 17 h, p < 0.001). General anesthesia (GA) was used in 19.3% of DOAC patients and in 3.0% of non-DOAC patients. DOAC-patients had an increased risk of one-month mortality (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 1.6 (1.1-2.3)) and one-year mortality (AOR 1.4 (1.1-1.8)). There were no differences in risk of blood transfusion. Patients on DOAC operated under GA had a lower risk of one-year mortality (AOR 0.5 (0.3-0.9)), but a similar one-month mortality to DOAC-patients operated under SA., Conclusion: DOAC users had a longer waiting time to surgery, indicating postponement of surgery due to concerns of the safety of SA. The clinical practice should be changed to allow earlier surgery for DOAC patients., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Pediatric regional anesthesia (RA) has emerged as a rapidly advancing dimension within pediatric anesthesia, demanding a continual commitment to knowledge acquisition. This review underscores the contemporary significance of this specialty, focusing on its application in neonates and infants. The primary objective of RA is to address perioperative pain effectively while preserving the delicate physiological balance, thereby enhancing overall patient care. This review explores the advantages offered by RA in this age group. Furthermore, conventional, and recently introduced techniques of RA are examined by exploring the advantages and disadvantages of these methods. The aim is to provide clinicians with a nuanced understanding of their applicability in different clinical scenarios. Additionally, the review elucidates the unique considerations associated with pediatric RA, acknowledging pediatric patients' distinctive anatomical and physiological characteristics. The exceptional cases of congenital anomalies and their implications for the choice of RA are considered. An aspect of the review is its focus on dosages of local anesthetics and the volumes required for various blocks in neonates and infants. The dosages for continuous infusion and practical issues with infusions are considered. Complications due to RA are described with their prevention and treatment. The review offers pragmatic insights into the selection criteria for various regional blocks, aiding anesthesiologists in making informed decisions tailored to individual patient needs.

Background: This study aimed to compare two analgesic pretreatment techniques for assessing pain reduction before spinal needle insertion and the subsequent patient satisfaction levels in pregnant female patients undergoing cesarean sections., Methods: Sixty pregnant female patients scheduled for elective cesarean section under spinal anesthesia were randomly assigned to two groups. The Lidocaine group received local skin infiltration with 2% lidocaine pretreatment before spinal needle introducer insertion, whereas the eutectic mixture of local anesthetics (EMLA) group received EMLA (lidocaine 2.5% and prilocaine 2.5%) cream pretreatment for at least 30 min before spinal needle introducer insertion. Subjective and objective pain scores, procedure duration, number of attempts, maternal satisfaction, and decisions regarding future numbing procedures and regional anesthesia were assessed., Results: The demographic characteristics of the patients were similar between groups. The mean visual analogue scale pain score was significantly lower in the EMLA group compared to the lidocaine group (P < 0.05). Additionally, the objective pain score was significantly lower in the EMLA group (P < 0.05). The duration of spinal block placement was significantly longer in the lidocaine group than in the EMLA group (P < 0.05). The number of attempts to perform the spinal block placement was similar in both groups. However, women in the EMLA group expressed greater overall satisfaction than those in the lidocaine group (76.7% vs. 20.0%, P < 0.05)., Conclusions: Analgesic pretreatment with EMLA cream is superior to local skin infiltration with lidocaine in pregnant patients undergoing elective cesarean section under spinal anesthesia.

BACKGROUND Elderly patients with severe or multiple comorbidities can be at high risk for complications of general anesthesia. This report is of a 74-year-old man with severe comorbidities, including ischemic heart disease (IHD) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and successful abdominal aortic aneurysm repair with thoracic segmental spinal anesthesia. CASE REPORT The patient, aged 74, had previously been diagnosed with severe COPD and IHD. He was classified as American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) grade IV, diagnosed with an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) measuring 6 cm in diameter, and had to undergo surgical repair of the aneurysm with the insertion of a synthetic graft. Due to a shortage of beds in the ICU and the desire to avoid the complications associated with general anesthesia, the decision was made to proceed with thoracic spinal regional anesthesia, which is not a customary choice for this type of surgery. Spinal anesthesia was administered at the Th10-11 level, utilizing 8.5 mg of Bupivacaine, 50 mcg of Fentanyl, and 4 mg of Dexason. An epidural catheter was placed at the same level. The surgical procedure lasted 145 min and was successfully completed under regional anesthesia. CONCLUSIONS This report has highlighted that developments in spinal thoracic anesthesia mean that this can be a successful alternative to general anesthesia in high-risk patients, even for major emergency surgery.

Purpose: Shivering occurs frequently after caesarean delivery. The present study aimed to investigate the ED50 and ED95 of an intravenous (i.v.) bolus of dexmedetomidine for treating severe shivering after caesarean delivery under combined spinal-epidural anaesthesia., Patients and Methods: Seventy-five parturients with severe shivering after caesarean delivery were randomized into one of the five groups to receive an i.v. bolus of 0.2 (Group D1), 0.25 (Group D2), 0.3 (Group D3), 0.35 (Group D4) or 0.4 (Group D5) μg/kg of dexmedetomidine. Effectiveness of shivering treatment was defined as a standardized shivering score decreasing to ≤1 within 10 min of dexmedetomidine injection. The ED50 and ED95 were determined by probit regression. Adverse effects were also compared among the groups., Results: The ED50 and ED95 of i.v. dexmedetomidine to treat severe shivering were 0.23 (95% CI, 0.16-0.26) μg/kg and 0.39 (95% CI, 0.34-0.52) μg/kg, respectively. No difference in the incidence of adverse effects was found between groups., Conclusion: An i.v. bolus of 0.39 μg/kg of dexmedetomidine will treat 95% of parturients experiencing severe shivering after caesarean delivery., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest in this work., (© 2024 Yang et al.)

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the effect of intravenous esketamine combined with dexmedetomidine as supplemental analgesia in reducing intraoperative visceral pain during elective cesarean section under combined spinal-epidural anesthesia (CSEA)., Patients and Methods: A total of 269 parturients scheduled for elective cesarean section under CSEA between May 2023 and August 2023 were assessed. The parturients were randomly allocated to receiving either intravenous infusion of 0.3-mg/kg esketamine combined with 0.5-μg/kg dexmedetomidine (group ED, n=76), 0.5-μg/kg dexmedetomidine (group D, n=76), or normal saline (group C, n=76) after umbilical cord clamping. The primary outcome was intraoperative visceral pain. Secondary outcomes included the visual analog scale (VAS) score for pain evaluation and other intraoperative complications., Results: The incidence of visceral pain was lower in group ED [9 (12.7%)] than in group D [32 (43.8%)] and group C [36 (48.6%), P <0.0001]. The VAS score was also lower in group ED when exploring abdominal cavity [0 (0), P <0.0001] and suturing the muscle layer [0 (0), P =0.036]. The mean arterial pressure was higher in group D [83 (9) mmHg] and group ED [81 (11) mmHg] than in group C [75 (10) mmHg, P <0.0001] after solution infusion. The heart rate after infusion of the solution was lower in group D [80 (12) bpm] than in group C [86 (14) bpm] and group ED [85 (12) bpm, P = 0.016]. The incidence of transient neurologic or mental symptoms was higher in group ED compared to group C and group D (76.1% vs 18.9% vs 23.3%, P <0.0001)., Conclusion: During cesarean section, 0.3-mg/kg esketamine combined with 0.5-μg/kg dexmedetomidine can alleviate visceral traction pain and provide stable hemodynamics. Parturients receiving this regimen may experience transient neurologic or mental symptoms that can spontaneously resolve at the end of the surgery., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work., (© 2024 Yang et al.)