Continuous preperitoneal infusion of ropivacaine for postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing major abdominal or pelvic surgeries. A prospective controlled randomized study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: This study was conducted to compare continuous preperitoneal infusion (CPI) with continuous epidural infusion (CEI) of ropivacaine for pain relief and effect on pulmonary functions after major abdominal and pelvic surgeries. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred patients were randomized into two equal groups. Patients in CPI group (n = 50) received analgesia by continuous infusion of 0.2% ropivacaine, whereas those in the CEI group (n = 50) received continuous epidural infusion of 0.2% ropivacaine. The primary outcome was the first request of analgesia. The secondary outcome was the influence on the pulmonary functions. RESULTS: The time for the first request of analgesia was longer in the CPI group compared with that in the CEI group (7.3 ± 1.6 vs. 4.1 ± 1.1 h with P value = 0.001). The daily dose of morphine was lesser in CPI versus CEI group (11.3 ± 1 against 17.4 ± 0.9 mg). The pulmonary function tests were comparable except peak expiratory flow rate, which was better in CPI (170 ± 5.4) than CEI group (148.1 ± 5.8; with P value = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Continuous preperitoneal infusion provides a superior analgesic effect than the continuous epidural infusion as regards delayed first request of analgesia, better pain scores, lesser usage of additional analgesics with better respiratory function.

The Influence of Different Degrees of Temperature of Intrathecal Levobupivacaine on Spinal Block Characteristics in Orthopedic Surgeries: A Prospective Randomized Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The temperature of the local anesthetics may affect the distribution of spinal anesthesia. The aim of the current study is to compare the effects of different degrees of intrathecal levobupivacaine 0.5% on the spinal anesthesia characteristics and shivering in orthopedic surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomized, prospective, and controlled trial was conducted on 120 patients aged 40-70 years with American Society of Anesthesiologists Classes I and II and who scheduled for orthopedic surgery; they were randomly distributed into three groups: Group 1 (L 24°C) - levobupivacaine 0.5% warmed to 24°C; Group 2 (L 30°C) - levobupivacaine 0.5% warmed to 30°C; and Group 3 (L 37°C) - levobupivacaine 0.5% warmed to 37°C. Every patient had received 3 mL of 0.5% levobupivacaine intrathecally. Sensory blockade was tested using the loss of pinprick sensation, whereas the motor block was tested using the modified Bromage scale. The onset and grading of shivering after spinal anesthesia were recorded. RESULTS: The use of intrathecal levobupivacaine 0.5% warmed to either 30°C or 37°C resulted in a significant acceleration of the onset of either sensory or motor blockade with a significant prolongation in the duration in addition to significant delay in the onset of shivering and the time of the first analgesia requirement in comparison to those of spinal anesthesia with levobupivacaine at room temperature (24°C). Notably, a nonsignificant difference in the spinal block characteristics and shivering was observed between Group L 30°C and Group L 37°C. CONCLUSION: The increasing the temperature of levobupivacaine 0.5% to 30 °C attains more rapid onset of sensory and motor blocks , with prolongation of the onset of shivering. It could be considered as effective equivalent to warming levobupivacaine 0.5%to 37°C in spinal anesthesia.

Fascia Iliaca Block as an Anesthetic Technique for: Acute Lower Limb Ischemia.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of preoperative fascia iliaca block (FIB) as a sole anesthetic technique in transfemoral thromboembolectomy of unilateral acute lower limb ischemia compared to unilateral spinal anesthesia (SA) as a primary outcome. Hemodynamic variation, postoperative pain score, and the first demand for analgesia with the total postoperative analgesic required in the 1st postoperative day were considered as the secondary outcome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective randomized controlled study included two groups of patients aged between 40 and 70 years, who underwent transfemoral thrombectomy for acute unilateral lower limb ischemia. Patients in the spinal group (SA) (n = 56): underwent unilateral SA using 10 mg bupivacaine 0.5% and patients in the group FIB (n = 56): received FIB with 30 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine. Sensory block was evaluated over the incisional area with 3-point scale. If the sensory block did not reach zero grade after 30 min, the patient received general anesthesia. RESULTS: The incidence of the successful block was 100% in the SA group compared to 80.35% in the FIB group. There was a significant decrease in recorded heart rate and mean blood pressure within the SA group at 3, 10, and 20 min and 3, 20, and 45 min, respectively. Values of visual analog scale decreased significantly in SA group compared to that of the FIB group immediately and 1 h postoperative. However, the time for the first postoperative analgesic requirement and morphine consumption was comparable between the groups. CONCLUSION: Preoperative FIB could be considered as a promising alternative anesthetic technique to SA with better hemodynamic parameters in patients undergoing transfemoral thrombectomy for acute lower limb ischemia. It could be also due to limited precautions considered the first choice over SA for patients on perioperative anticoagulants.

Analgesic effect of adding magnesium sulfate to epidural levobupivacaine in patients with pre-eclampsia undergoing elective cesarean section.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Magnesium is a physiological antagonist of NMDA receptor and a calcium channel blocker. This study was designed to test the analgesic effect of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) when added to epidural anesthesia in mild pre-eclampsia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty parturients with mild pre-eclampsia were allocated randomly to two equal groups. The Placebo group received 20 ml levobupivacaine hydrochloride 0.5% plus 5 ml isotonic saline 0.9% using two separate syringes. The Magnesium group received the same amount of local anesthetic plus 5 ml of 10% MgSO4(500 mg) using two separate syringes. The primary outcome was pain free period. While, the secondary outcomes were the onset of motor block and the time needed to achieve complete motor block. The analgesic profile was evaluated by visual analog scale (VAS) during rest or motion, the time to first request for analgesia, and the total analgesic consumption. RESULTS: The pain-free period was significantly longer in the Magnesium group (311.3 ± 21.4) compared to placebo group (153.1 ± 22.18). The total postoperative consumption of fentanyl was significantly lower in the Magnesium group (42.4 ± 5.3) than that in the placebo group (94.4 ± 9.9), with a P value 0. 01. Both the onset time of motor block and the time needed to achieve complete motor block were significantly shorter among the Magnesium group (4.4 ± 1.4 and 8.2 ± 0.4, respectively), with a P value of 0. 01. CONCLUSION: The addition of 500 mg MgSO4 to epidural anesthesia fastens both sensory and motor blockade and improves postoperative analgesic profile.