RESUMO
Background: A novel ultrasound-guided paravertebral block, the edge laminar block (ELB) was reported recently. However, it was unclear how effective ELB was in comparison with traditional blocking methods. We conducted a trial to compare the analgesic efficacy of ELB with the thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) and the retrolaminar block (RLB) in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). Methods: We identified 90 patients who were scheduled for VATS and randomly assigned them to three groups: ELB group (Group E), TPVB group (Group T), and RLB group (Group R). Each group underwent ELB, TPVB, and RLB, respectively, under ultrasound guidance before general anesthesia induction. All patients received post-operative routine analgesia protocol. Our primary outcome was the extent of dermatomal sensory loss on the midclavicular, midaxillary, and scapular lines, measured using a pinprick 15 minutes after the nerve block. Secondary outcomes included the intraoperative dose of sufentanil, the numerical rating scale (NRS) scores assessed in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and at 6, 12, and 24 hours post-operatively, and pethidine administrated as analgesic rescue dose. Results: The percentages of nerve block range reaching the midclavicular line, midaxillary line, and scapular line in Group E were 96.7%, 93.3%, 93.3%, and 60% in Group T and 30%, 56.7%, and 96.7% in Group R, respectively. Group E had wider dermatomal sensory loss on the midclavicular line and midaxillary line compared to Group R (P < 0.001) and had a wider range compared to Group T on the scapular line (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the intraoperative use of sufentanil in the three groups. Post-operative NRS scores at each time point were significantly lower in Group E than those in the other two groups (P < 0.01). Conclusion: ELB had a wider nerve block range and applied better post-operative analgesia in comparison with TPVB and RLB.
RESUMO
Endometriosis (EM) is one of the common gynecological conditions causing menstrual and pelvic pain and affects 10%-15% of women of reproductive age. In recent years, the complementary and alternative medical (CAM) treatment for EM has become popular due to the few adverse reactions reported. The CAM therapy for EM includes several different treatments such as herbs (herbal prescription, extract, and patent), acupuncture, microwave physiotherapy, and Chinese herb medicine enema (CHM enema). These CAM therapies are effective at relieving dysmenorrhoea, shrinking adnexal masses, and promoting pregnancy, with less unpleasant side effects when compared to hormonal and surgical treatments. In this review, we focus on the status quo of CAM on EM and try to identify therapeutic efficacy and mechanisms based on some clinical and experimental studies. We hope to provide some instructive suggestions for clinical treatment and experimental research in the future.
RESUMO
Genital infection is a common worldwide disease among females with clinical features such as bilateral lower abdominal tenderness, abnormal vaginal or cervical discharge, fever, abnormal vaginal bleeding, dyspareunia, vaginal itching, and adnexal tenderness, which can significantly impair women's health and quality of life. Genital infection is commonly treated with antibiotics, leading to an imbalance in gut flora due to prolonged use of antibiotics. Therefore, it is necessary to discover safe and efficacious alternative treatment strategies for patients with genital infection. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is becoming increasingly prevalent among women with genital infection. CAM has interested the western mainstream medical community because of its less invasive, safe, effective, economical, and convenient therapies. CAM focuses on the prevention and treatment of disease and has become an important force in treating chronic disease. During the last few decades, the popularity of CAM has gradually increased. To further understand the efficacy of CAM in treating genital infection, our paper will review the current progress of treating genital infection including vulvitis, vaginitis, cervicitis, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) with CAM therapies. Several CAM strategies including traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), acupuncture, Psychology interference, and physical therapy are introduced in this review.