Ultrasound-guided fascial plane blocks in chronic pain: a narrative review.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have unveiled the intricate and distinctive nature of fascia, no longer regarding it solely as a muscle container. Recent research highlights its complex innervation and structure, signifying its significance in chronic pain pathways. METHODS: We conducted a systematic literature search (updated on February 2024) to evaluate the role of fascial plane blocks in chronic pain treatment. All article types (randomized clinical trials, prospective and retrospective observational studies along with case reports and case series) were deemed eligible for inclusion if they referenced "fascial plane blocks" for the control of chronic pain conditions (persistent post-surgical, neuropathic, musculoskeletal-myofascial and cancer-related) and were published between 2010 and February 2024. RESULTS: The search revealed an increasing evidence in the literature for the implementation of fascial blocks in chronic pain management, although still heavily limited to case reports or series. CONCLUSION: With the integration of ultrasound technology and a deeper understanding of their mechanisms of action, the fascial plane blocks continue to broaden their application also in chronic pain management, as a part of a multimodal strategy or as an alternative to conventional drugs or opioids.

Anesthesiologists ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia core curriculum: a Delphi consensus from Italian regional anesthesia experts.

INTRODUCTION: The need for a standardized core curriculum in regional anesthesia has become essential, particularly with the integration of ultrasound revolutionizing and exponentially increasing clinical practice and possibilities. In fact, numerous novel techniques, often overlapping, can confuse practitioners. This study aims to establish a core curriculum for upper limb, lower limb, paraspinal and fascial plane blocks for residency training, addressing potential educational gaps caused by the multitude of techniques, through a Delphi consensus process involving recognized Italian regional anesthesia experts. METHODS: A steering committee was formed in order to select a panel of experts in regional anesthesia. A three-round Delphi consensus was planned: two rounds of electronic voting and a final round of mixed electronic voting and round table discussion. The consensus was defined as ≥ 75% agreement for inclusion and lower than ≤ 25% agreement for exclusion from the core curriculum list. Techniques reaching the 50% threshold were included with low consensus. RESULTS: Twenty-nine techniques were selected to be included in the ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia core curriculum. Twenty-two were included with strong consensus: Upper limb: interscalene brachial plexus block, supraclavicular brachial plexus block, infraclavicular brachial plexus block, axillary brachial plexus block, intermediate cervical plexus block Lower limb: femoral nerve block, pericapsular nerve group block, adductor canal block, sciatic nerve block (transgluteal approach, infragluteal approach, and at the popliteal fossa), ankle block Paraspinal/fascial plane blocks: erector spinae plane block, deep serratus anterior plane block, superficial pectointercostal plane block, interpectoral plane block, pectoserratus plane block, rectus sheath block, ilioinguinal iliohypogastric nerves block, transversus abdominis plane block (with subcostal and midaxillary approaches) The remaining seven techniques were included with low consensus: superficial cervical plexus block, lumbar plexus block, fascia iliaca block (suprainguinal approach), anterior quadratus lumborum block, lateral quadratus lumborum block, paravertebral block, and serratus anterior plane block. CONCLUSIONS: This curriculum aims to standardize training and ensure that residents acquire the essential skills required for effective and safe practice regardless of the residents' subsequent specialization. By incorporating these techniques, educational programs can provide a structured and consistent approach to regional anesthesia, enhancing the quality of patient care and improving outcomes.

Neuraxial Anesthesia for an Open Low Anterior Rectal Resection: Tip the Scales in Patient's Favor.

We present the case of a successful application of combined spinal-epidural anesthesia for a geriatric patient undergoing open cancer surgery. The patient, affected by multiple comorbidities, was proposed for an open anterior rectal resection. The implementation of a tailored protocol, incorporating neuraxial techniques such as epidural and spinal anesthesia, facilitated optimal pain management and expedited postoperative recovery improving perioperative outcomes, and highlighting the potential benefits of such strategies in selected cases.

Hip chronic pain: ultrasound guided ablation of anterior articular branches plus posterior neurolysis of the nerve to the quadratus femoris versus the alone anterior approach-a retrospective observational study.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic hip pain is a common painful condition in the elderly population. A mini invasive technique that is increasingly being considered for management of CHP is the percutaneous denervation of hip articular branches via radiofrequency ablation. We described a new ultrasound-guided technique based on the combination of 90° ultrasound-guided anterior radiofrequency ablation of the articular branches of femoral nerve, accessory obturator nerve and obturator nerve for anterior hip, combined with 90° ultrasound-guided ablation of the articular branches of the nerve of the quadratus femoris for posterior pericapsular neurolysis of the hip. MATERIAL E METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients from September 2022 to September 2023 treated for chronic hip pain in the ambulatory of Pain Management, identifying 22 patients who underwent ultrasound guided radiofrequency denervation of anterior hip articular branches alone (Group B); and 22 patients in which was also applied a radiofrequency denervation of the posterior articular branches, in addition to the anterior denervation (Group A). We analysed the pain intensity of both groups measured with numeric rating scale. RESULT: The combined anterior plus posterior approach ensured that the results obtained were maintained 6 months after the procedure (T3) with excellent pain control and an average NRS of 1455 for group A. While for the group B, with the anterior approach alone, the NRS at six months showed an upward trend with an average NRS of 3818. The dual approach is more effective in pain relief at 6 months with a statistically significant difference in NRS values (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This retrospective observational study highlighted the greater impact of the double approach (anterior plus posterior) in the denervation of the hip joint, compared to anterior neurolysis alone.

Combination of Pericapsular Nerve Group (PENG) and Sacral Erector Spinae Plane (S-ESP) Blocks for Hip Fracture Pain and Surgery: A Case Series.

A hip fracture is a serious injury with life-threatening complications, and its risk rises with increasing age. A hip fracture can be a very painful condition, and prompt surgical treatment is recommended to reduce pain and complications. Pain management is considered integral to the management of a broken hip. The choice between general and regional anesthesia in hip fracture surgery continues to be a topic of debate because risks are potentially associated with both approaches. Nerve blockades have proven to be effective in reducing acute pain after a hip fracture and in the perioperative period. For this reason, many regional techniques have been introduced, such as the lumbar plexus block, fascia iliac block, femoral nerve block, and recently, the pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block. Hip joint innervation is complex, not limited to the lumbar plexus but also depending on the sciatic nerve and branches of the sacral plexus (superior and inferior gluteal nerves and an articular branch from the quadratus femoris nerve). We hypothesized that a combination of two emerging regional anesthesia techniques, such as the PENG block and sacral erector spinae plane (S-ESP) block, could represent a good option to obtain pain control of the whole hip joint without opioid administration intraoperatively and postoperatively. Here, we report the cases of three frail patients with significant comorbidities who underwent hip fracture surgery (two cases of intramedullary nailing and one hemiarthroplasty), in which we preoperatively performed PENG and S-ESP blocks. We registered optimal intraoperative and postoperative pain control up to 48 hours after surgery without complications and without opioid administration, allowing the surgery to be performed with intravenous sedation or laryngeal mask general anesthesia. The surgeries were uneventful, and no complications were reported. This approach warrants further investigation in hip fracture surgery.

Factors to consider for fascial plane blocks' success in acute and chronic pain management.

The outcome of fascial plane blocks (FPBs) has a certain variability that may depend on many factors, which can be divided into three main categories: operator-related, patient-related and drug-related. Operator-related factors include personal skills, choice of needle and injection modalities. Patient variables include anthropometric features, the type of targeted fascia, anatomical variants, patient positioning, muscle tone and breathing. Ultimately, efficacy, onset, and duration of fascial blocks may be affected by characteristics of the injected solution, including the type of local anesthetic, volume, concentration, pH, temperature and the use of adjuvants. In this article, we investigated all the factors that may influence the outcome of FPBs from a generic perspective, without focusing on any specific technique. Also, we provided suggestions to optimize techniques for everyday practitioners and insights to researchers for future studies.

Impact of "basic life support & defibrillation" training on quality of telephone-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

While telephone-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (T-CPR) is crucial for improving the chances of survival during cardiac arrest, there is limited information available on the effectiveness of T-CPR when administered by laypeople, especially those who are unfamiliar with these procedures. Therefore, we assessed the influence of basic life support and defibrillation (BLSD) training on the proficiency of T-CPR carried out by volunteer medical students participating in a BLSD course, using a simulated cardiac arrest scenario. The quality of T-CPR maneuvers was compared before and after the BLSD course. The results highlight the positive impact of BLSD training, significantly enhancing the quality of T-CPR and bringing it close to optimal levels.