Bilateral guided cervical block for Zenker diverticulum excision in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis.

Patients with severe ankylosing spondylitis (AS) have difficulties in tracheal intubation. An 87-year-old man with severe AS was scheduled for Zenker diverticulum (ZD) excision. It was decided to proceed with combined bilateral cervical plexus blockade using a nerve stimulator. The surgery lasted about 3 h, with stable hemodynamics, ECG, and oxygen saturation. The use of a nerve stimulator-guided cervical block minimizes the risk of severe respiratory and/or airway compromise secondary to phrenic nerve or recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, because it can elicit diaphragmatic muscle response, which helps to avoid the administration of local anesthetic directly to the area of the phrenic nerve, and guides correct needle placement. In conclusion, the nerve stimulatorguided bilateral cervical block in our ZD patient with AS was shown to be a safe and successful alternative anesthetic option.

Nerve stimulator guided pudendal nerve block versus general anesthesia for hemorrhoidectomy.

PURPOSE: A randomized clinical trial was undertaken to test the hypothesis that patients receiving a nerve stimulator guided pudendal nerve block for hemorrhoidectomy would experience more effective and prolonged postoperative analgesia and shorter hospital stay compared to patients receiving general anesthesia. METHODS: This was a prospective randomized observer-blinded study. Following Ethics Committee approval and informed consent, 80 patients scheduled for hemorrhoidectomy were randomized to two groups of 40 patients each: general anesthesia alone, or nerve stimulator guided pudendal nerve block. Postoperative pain, the primary outcome variable of the study, was assessed by visual analogue scale scores at predetermined intervals during the postoperative period. Analgesic consumption, time to return to normal activities, patients' and surgeons' satisfaction, and duration of hospital stay were recorded. RESULTS: The guided pudendal nerve block group failed in three patients, requiring their conversion to general anesthesia. Otherwise, patients in the pudendal nerve block group experienced better postoperative pain relief at rest (P < 0.0001), on walking, sitting, and defecation (P < 0.001), reduced need for opioids (11/35 vs 32/37; P < 0.0001), a more rapid return to normal activities (7.2 vs 13.8 days; P < 0.0001) and also a shorter hospital stay (25/35 vs 3/37 outpatient cases; P < 0.0001) compared to the general anesthesia group. Pudendal nerve block was also associated with overall higher patient satisfaction compared to general anesthesia (30/35 vs 9/37; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Nerve stimulator guided pudendal nerve block is associated with reduced postoperative pain, shortened hospital stay, and earlier return to normal activity compared to general anesthesia for hemorrhoidectomy.