Peripheral nerve block adjuncts: which medication to choose? A narrative review of the current literature.

Enhancing the effect of peripheral nerve blockade by adding other classes of medications has long history of trial and error. Studies have identified multiple potentially beneficial adjuncts that work to either speed the onset of analgesia or prolong its duration. The benefits of these adjuncts must be weighed against the risks of systemic negative side effects. To date, the most commonly used adjuncts, and ones with the most robust scientific efficacy are, dexamethasone, dexmedetomidine and buprenorphine. This narrative review will discuss several classes of local anesthetic adjuncts and provide evidence for the clinical efficacy and side effect profile of the most commonly studied medications.

64-year-old woman • hot flashes, facial flushing, excessive sweating, and palpitations • daily headaches • history of hypertension • Dx?

► hot flashes, facial flushing, excessive sweating, and palpitations ► daily headaches ► history of hypertension.

Calcitonin-secreting pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor in a patient with elevated thyroid fine-needle aspirate calcitonin washout: A case report and review of the literature.

We report the unique case of a patient with previously proven non-functional PanNET and Graves' disease with thyroid nodules. The patient had elevated intranodular calcitonin, but no MTC or c-cell hyperplasia on thyroidectomy. They were found to have calcitonin secreting PanNET. This case presents a false-positive intranodular calcitonin.

Paraganglioma masquerading as a primary liver lesion: A rare entity discovered during surgery.

A 54-year-old woman with controlled hypertension presented with abdominal pain and weight loss. Imaging revealed a 6.6 cm liver lesion. During resection, she became severely hypertensive and diagnosis was paraganglioma. Hepatic paragangliomas are exceedingly rare but must be considered in the differential of abdominal mass even without typical clinical symptoms.

Malignant Hyperthermia-A Case From Camp Humphreys, South Korea, and Lessons for the Military Health System.

Although malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a well-known complication of anesthesia, it presents unique considerations in the military health system. In this case report, the authors present a 26-year-old male active duty service member who experienced an MH crisis during a routine bilateral sagittal split osteotomy. The case presented here, which occurred at Brian D Allgood Army Community Hospital at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, highlights the challenges presented when caring for these patients in minimally staffed environments with frequent turnover of staff. The authors discuss the challenges to the military system such as the importance of adequate documentation of MH-susceptible service members, the benefits of rapidly dissolving dantrolene sodium nanosuspension, and the necessity for frequent training of military medical staff in the recognition and management of MH.

Regional Anesthesia in the Field for Trauma Victims.

This article addresses the importance of anesthesiologists providing regional anesthesia techniques that are beneficial to the care of trauma patients in the field. It also discusses the advantages and risks associated with regional anesthesia in the field along with how to avoid those risks. In addition, it describes some of the benefits of modern ultrasound techniques compared with landmark techniques with stimulation and other important considerations when performing regional anesthesia in the field. The article gives the unique indications, risks, and key points of the most useful regional techniques for anesthesiologists operating in field environments.