Pectoral-intercostal fascial plane block in chronic post-sternotomy pain.

Persistent poststernotomy pain (PSP) is a well-known entity following cardiac surgery done with midline strenotomy. The severity of pain is usually mild to moderate in the majority of the patients. However, a small percentage of patients develop severe and persistent pain and need aggressive treatment. Our patient, a 63-year-old lady developed chronic severe parasternal pain following coronary artery bypass graft surgery. As multiple medications did not relieve her pain effectively, we did an ultrasound-guided pectoral-intercostal fascial plane block to which she responded with excellent and long-lasting pain relief. This is the first such case report of the use of this novel block technique for treating PSP.

Comparison of supra-inguinal fascia iliaca versus pericapsular nerve block for ease of positioning during spinal anaesthesia: A randomised double-blinded trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Regional analgesic techniques such as supra-inguinal fascia-iliaca compartment block (S-FICB) and pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block have been found to be effective in providing good pain relief in hip-fracture patients. However, comparative studies between PENG and S-FICB are lacking. The aim of this study was to compare the analgesic efficacy of S-FICB and PENG block and assess their efficacy in optimal patient positioning for spinal anaesthesia. METHODS: A prospective randomised double-blind study was conducted in 66 patients randomly divided to receive either S-FICB or PENG block under ultrasound guidance. Primary outcome measures were numerical rating scale (NRS) pain score at rest and on passive 15° limb lifting, 30 minutes after the block and ease of spinal positioning. The secondary outcome measures were NRS over 24 hours, amount of tramadol used (number of rescue doses), patients' satisfaction and block-related complications. The results were analysed using statistical software (MedCalc version 19.2.1). Continuous and categorical data were analysed using appropriate statistical analysis and P < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Post-block, the NRS score decreased significantly in PENG and S-FICB groups at rest and movement (P < 0.0001). The EOSP score was significantly better in PENG group (P < 0.0001). First analgesic request and pain relief in the first 24-hour period were similar between the groups (P = 0.524). CONCLUSION: PENG block provided better pain relief and ease of positing during SA in patients with fractured hip scheduled for hip surgery.

Stellate ganglion block as rescue therapy in drug-resistant electrical storm.

Electrical storm or incessant ventricular tachycardia is a life-threatening condition and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Often patients respond to traditional anti-arrhythmia treatment. However, some patients are resistant to the drug therapy and thus, pose huge challenges in effective management. Though stellate ganglion block has been found to be effective in treating patients with electrical storm, it is still under-utilized. In this case report, we successfully managed to revert the drug-resistant arrhythmia to sinus rhythm after ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion block. Earlier utilization of the block can possibly provide effective treatment in drug-resistant ventricular arrhythmias and prevent morbidity and mortality.

Efficacy of transmuscular quadratus lumborum block in the multimodal regimen for postoperative analgesia after total laparoscopic hysterectomy: A prospective randomised double-blinded study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Transmuscular Quadratus Lumborum Block (TQLB) is a novel regional anaesthesia technique, however, its analgesic efficacy as a component of multimodal analgesia (MMA) in Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy (TLH) is not well studied. The aim of the study was to evaluate the analgesic efficacy of TQLB as a component of MMA for postoperative pain in TLH. METHODS: A prospective double-blind randomised controlled study was done after approval from the ethical committee and informed patient consent. After randomisation, 37 patients in Group-Q received 20 ml 0.375% ropivacaine and in Group-C, 37 patients received saline in TQLB bilaterally after TLH surgery. All patients received intravenous patient controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) with fentanyl along with diclofenac 75 mg every 12 h. All the patients were assessed at 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 18, and 24 hours. The primary outcome was the time to first analgesic request. The secondary outcome measures were total fentanyl consumption in 24 hrs, pain scores during rest and movement, postoperative nausea-vomiting, sedation and complications related to local anaesthetic and TQLB procedure. RESULTS: The mean [standard deviation (SD)] time to first analgesic request was 7.8 (1.5) hours in Group-Q and 3.2 (1.0) hours in Group-C (P < 0.0001). The mean (SD) dose of fentanyl used in 24 hours was 167.3 (44) µg in Group-Q and 226.5 (41.9) µg in Group-C (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The ultrasound-guided TQLB provides effective postoperative analgesia after TLH surgery in a multimodal analgesia approach. It reduces the fentanyl consumption and improves the visual analogue scale (VAS) score.

Perioperative anesthetic management of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy for noncardiac surgery: a case series.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with or without left ventricular outflow tract obstruction is characterized by asymmetric hypertrophy of the interventricular septum causing intermittent obstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract. Because Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common genetic cardiovascular disease, it may present to the anesthesiologist more often than anticipated, sometimes in undiagnosed form during routine preoperative visit. Surgery and anesthesia often complicate the perioperative outcome if adequate monitoring and proper care are not taken. Therefore, a complete understanding of the pathophysiology, hemodynamic changes and anesthetic implications is needed for successful perioperative outcome. We hereby describe the perioperative management of three patients with Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy for different surgical procedures.