Intraperitoneal lidocaine instillation during abdominal hysterectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials.

AIM: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of all randomized placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) that inspected the analgesic benefits of intraperitoneal lidocaine instillation among patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy. METHODS: Five electronic databases were inspected from till August 5, 2021. The eligible RCTs were evaluated for risk of bias. The pooled endpoints were summarized as mean difference (MD) or risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: Five RCTs met the inclusion criteria comprising 263 patients (119 and 117 patients were allocated to lidocaine and control group, respectively). The included RCTs demonstrated a low risk of bias. The postoperative pain score at rest was significantly lower in favor of the lidocaine group (MD=-1.01, 95% CI [-1.20, -0.81], p<0.001), and subgroup analysis demonstrated the same at 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, and 48 h postoperatively. Moreover, the postoperative pain score at moving was significantly lower in favor of the lidocaine group (MD=-0.67, 95% CI [-1.01, -0.33], p<0.001), and subgroup analysis demonstrated the same at 2 and 48 h postoperatively. The postoperative morphine consumption during 0-24 h was significantly lower in favor of the lidocaine group (n = 5 RCTs, MD=-7.29 mg, 95% CI [-13.22, -1.37], p = 0.02). The rate of postoperative vomiting was significantly lower in favor of the lidocaine group (n = 4 RCTs, RR=0.54, 95% CI [0.31, 0.95], p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Among patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy, intraperitoneal lidocaine instillation is feasible, cheap, safe, and associates with effective analgesia in terms of reduced postoperative pain score and morphine consumption.

10% Lidocaine spray as a local anesthetic in blood gas sampling: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

AIM: Radial artery blood gas sampling is a very common procedure undertaken in the emergency department to evaluate respiratory and metabolic parameters. This intervention causes both anxiety and pain for the patient. Therefore, the current study aimed to examine the analgesic efficacy of lidocaine spray compared to a placebo during radial artery blood gas sampling. METHODS: This study was conducted in the emergency department of a tertiary hospital with a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design. A total of 144 patients were randomly divided into two groups: One group (n = 72) received 10% lidocaine spray and the other (n = 72) was the placebo group. The analgesic efficacy of the 10% lidocaine spray was compared with the placebo group using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). RESULTS: In the evaluation of the analgesic efficacy of the 10% lidocaine spray, the VAS score was 1.5 [interquartile range (IQR): 2.0] for the lidocaine group and 5 (IQR: 2.0) for the placebo group. The role of lidocaine spray in reducing pain was statistically significant compared to the placebo (p = 0.000). CONCLUSION: In blood gas sampling, 10% lidocaine spray has analgesic efficacy. Therefore, we recommend the use of lidocaine spray while performing arterial blood gas sampling in emergency departments.

How to minimize the pain of local anesthetic administration.

Expertise in the delivery of effective local analgesia is critical to the success of in-office procedures. Here's how to optimize patient outcomes and satisfaction.

Stability study of hydromorphone and bupivacaine mixture by HPLC-UV.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the physical and chemical stability of hydromorphone hydrochloride and bupivacaine hydrochloride in concentrations of 15 mg.ml-1 and 10 mg.mL-1 in 0.9% sodium chloride injection. Test samples of hydromorphone/bupivacaine mixtures were stored at 37°C, body temperature encounterd during continuous intrathecal infusion, for 90 days. The solutions were packaged in 20 ml plastic syringes. Evaluations for physical and chemical stability were performed initially and throughout the storage periods. Physical stability was assessed by visual observation. The chemical stability of the drug was evaluated by means of a stability-indicating high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analytical technique. In addition, pH and osmolarity were measured electronically. Methods: This study determines the stability and compatibility of hydromorphone (15 mg.ml-1) and bupivacaine (10 mg.ml-1) mixture after 3 months at 37°C using a validated method by HPLC-UV. A simple, precise, specific and accurate reversed phase high performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) method was developed and validated. The different analytical performance parameters such as linearity, accuracy, specificity, precision and sensitivity (limit of detection and limit of quantitation) were determined according to International Conference on Harmonisation ICH Q2 (R1) guidelines. RP-HPLC was conducted on a nucleoshell RP18plus (C18 150×4.6 mm with 2.7 µm particle size) column. The mobile phase consisted of buffer A (phosphate buffer (0.05M) pH 4.5) and acetonitrile B. The gradient used for the elution is the following one: time (min)/% of B: 0 min/20%; 1.9 min/50%; 2.5 min /40%; 4.5 min/40%; 5.5 min/20%; and 8 min /20%, and the flow rate was maintained at 1.0ml.min-1 and performed at 35°C. The molecules were monitored using Dionex ultimate 3000, equipped with photo diode array detector (λ=210 nm). Linearity was observed in concentration range of 9-21 mg.l-1 for hydromorphone and 6-14 mg.l-1 for bupivacaine. All the system suitability parameters were found within the range. Results: The degradation study shows a photolytic degradation compound for hydromorphone and an oxidative degradation compound found for bupivacaine. The stability study shows no visible haze or particulate formation or gas evolution. pH and osmolarity were stable during the 3 months. Colour changed after 2 months, although this colouring is due to hydromorphone, proportional to hydromorphone concentrations and increases with time but it is a well known modification. The quantitative study by HPLC method revealed no significant change in hydromorphone and bupivacaine concentration. There is less than 5% of variability during the 3-month period. Conclusions: Hydromorphone (15 mg.ml-1) and bupivacaine (10 mg.ml-1) were physically and chemically compatible and analysed with HPLC, which revealed no significant change in hydromorphone and bupivacaine concentration in this simulated compatibility study.

Periarticular Ketorolac Improves Outcomes for Patients With Joint Replacements.

BACKGROUND: Effective analgesia after joint replacement allows for earlier mobilization, decreased length of stay, and reduced opioid use. The injection of the surgical area with ketorolac (Toradol) prior to closure has changed pain management in joint replacement surgery. PURPOSE: This retrospective research study examined the difference between patients who received periarticular injections of ketorolac versus those who did not. Postoperative outcomes were measured in the two groups. METHODS: Between January 2012 and December 2014, a random sample of 161 patient charts was reviewed to compare length of stay, distance ambulated in the first physical therapy (PT) session, and amount of opioids consumed. RESULTS: Ketorolac injected into the tissue prior to closure significantly impacted outcomes. Patients who received the injection had statistically significant shorter stays, ambulated further distances with their first PT session, and used fewer opioids on postoperative day 1. CONCLUSION: Periarticular ketorolac injections reduce pain and improve outcomes, which reduces healthcare costs.

Intravenous Lidocaine for Chronic Neuropathic Pain A Systematic Review Addressing Nursing Care.

BACKGROUND: The intravenous administration of lidocaine for patients with chronic neuropathic pain is well documented in the literature. However, little is known about the role of the nurse caring for patients receiving the infusion. AIM: The purpose of this systematic review was to examine and describe common side effects associated with the intravenous administration of lidocaine to patients with chronic neuropathic pain and outline nursing care described in an effort to develop evidence-based protocols for care. METHOD: A comprehensive search of databases was completed and yielded eleven (n = 11) articles and one care protocol for analysis. RESULTS: Evidence was appraised and findings suggest intravenous lidocaine has a low risk of causing adverse events, however patients should be monitored closely. CONCLUSIONS: Nursing care focuses on pain assessment, close observation and intervention if neurological changes occur.

Ropivacaine/Fentanyl vs. Bupivacaine/Fentanyl for Pain Control in Children after Thoracic Surgery: A Randomized Study.

BACKGROUND: Although bupivacaine remains a standard local anesthetic for postoperative epidural infusions in pediatric patients, it is increasingly being replaced with ropivacaine by many anesthesiologists. Ropivacaine is associated with less risk for cardiac and central nervous system toxicity. AIMS: The purpose of this study was to compare analgesic efficacy and adverse events of postoperative epidural analgesia with ropivacaine/fentanyl versus bupivacaine/fentanyl in children after the Ravitch procedure and thoracotomy. DESIGN: This was a prospective randomized controlled study. SETTINGS: This study was conducted at the Department of Thoracic Surgery of the Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases in Rabka Zdroj, Poland. PARTICIPANTS/SUBJECTS: 94 patients undergoing elective thoracic surgery. METHODS: Patients aged 7-17 years were randomly allocated into a ropivacaine 0.2% (RF, n = 45) or bupivacaine 0.125% (BF, n = 45) group; 1 mL of each analgesic solution contained 5 µg fentanyl. All patients received acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Nurses assessed pain intensity and incidence of adverse events over 72 hours after surgery and modified analgesia if patient pain intensity was greater than 2 out of 10. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in median pain scores and incidence of adverse events between the RF group and the BF group. The analgesia was excellent (median pain intensity scores at rest, during deep breathing, and when coughing was less than 1 out of 10 in all patients). Adverse events included incidents of desaturation (64/90), nausea (18/90), vomiting (31/90), pruritus (12/90), urinary retention (2/90), paresthesia (11/90), anisocoria (2/90), and Horner syndrome (2/90). CONCLUSIONS: Thoracic epidural analgesia using an RF and BF solution resulted in similar pain relief and adverse event profiles.

Nurse Practitioner-Administered Chloroprocaine in Children with Postoperative Pain.

BACKGROUND: Pain is a complex physical and emotional experience. Therefore, assessment of acute pain requires self-report when possible, observations of emotional and behavioral responses and changes in vital signs. Peripheral nerve and epidural catheters often provide postoperative analgesia in children. Administration of chloroprocaine (a short acting local anesthetic) via a peripheral nerve or epidural catheter allows for a comparison of pain scores, observations of emotional and behavioral responses and changes in vital signs to determine catheter function. AIMS: The aims of this study are to describe the use chloroprocaine injections for testing catheters; patient response; and how changes to pain management are guided by the patient response. METHODS: This study describes the use of chloroprocaine injections to manage pain and assess the function of peripheral nerve or epidural catheters in a pediatric population. We examined 128 surgical patients, (0-25 years old), who received chloroprocaine injections for testing peripheral nerve or epidural catheters. Patient outcomes included: blood pressure, respiratory rate, heart rate and pain intensity scores. RESULTS: There were no significant adverse events. The injection guided intervention by determining the function of regional analgesia in the majority (98.5%) of patients. DISCUSSION: Chloroprocaine injections appear to be useful to evaluate functionality of peripheral nerve and epidural catheters after surgery in a pediatric population.

Improving Performance by Monitoring the Success Rate of Peripheral Nerve Blocks.

In our hospital, we introduced a system to measure the collective and individual efficacy of brachial plexus and popliteal nerve blocks with the objective to create transparency as an instrument for monitoring and improvement. Initially, individual results were anonymous, but after 1 year anonymity was lifted within the team of anesthesiologists and results are now discussed quarterly. Collective performance of interscalene, supraclavicular, and popliteal blocks improved significantly over time. Sharing and discussing collective and individual performance has resulted in critical self-appraisal and increased willingness to learn from each other and strengthened the team's ambition for further improvement.

[New short-acting local anaesthetics for spinal anaesthesia - Well-tried substances for ambulatory surgery]. / Neue kurzwirksame Lokalanästhetika in der Spinalanästhesie - Altbewährte Substanzen für ambulante Eingriffe.

More and more operative procedures are performed in an ambulatory setting. Many patients are denied spinal anaesthesia, although it provides several advantages. Innovative pharmaceutical formulations of well-tried local anaesthetics have created "new" substances that are ideal for ambulatory surgery due to their fast onset, short duration of action, and very low incidence of complications such as transient neurological symptoms (TNS). Both hyperbaric prilocaine 2% and preservative-free chloroprocaine 1% were recently approved for spinal application in Germany. Additional perioperative measures, such as the use of atraumatic, thin spinal needles (25 or 27G), restrictive volume management, and early patient mobilisation, lead to a further reduction of complications. The new S1 guideline of the German Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine encourages us anaesthetists to use spinal anaesthesia more frequently in an ambulatory setting.

Ultra high performance supercritical fluid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry for screening of doping agents. II: Analysis of biological samples.

The potential and applicability of UHPSFC-MS/MS for anti-doping screening in urine samples were tested for the first time. For this purpose, a group of 110 doping agents with diverse physicochemical properties was analyzed using two separation techniques, namely UHPLC-MS/MS and UHPSFC-MS/MS in both ESI+ and ESI- modes. The two approaches were compared in terms of selectivity, sensitivity, linearity and matrix effects. As expected, very diverse retentions and selectivities were obtained in UHPLC and UHPSFC, proving a good complementarity of these analytical strategies. In both conditions, acceptable peak shapes and MS detection capabilities were obtained within 7 min analysis time, enabling the application of these two methods for screening purposes. Method sensitivity was found comparable for 46% of tested compounds, while higher sensitivity was observed for 21% of tested compounds in UHPLC-MS/MS and for 32% in UHPSFC-MS/MS. The latter demonstrated a lower susceptibility to matrix effects, which were mostly observed as signal suppression. In the case of UHPLC-MS/MS, more serious matrix effects were observed, leading typically to signal enhancement and the matrix effect was also concentration dependent, i.e., more significant matrix effects occurred at the lowest concentrations.

Levobupivacaine vs. bupivacaine for third molar surgery: quality of anaesthesia, postoperative analgesia and local vascular effects.

OBJECTIVES: The main purpose of this prospective, double-blind, randomized study was to evaluate anaesthetic parameters, postoperative analgesia and vasoactive properties of levobupivacaine and bupivacaine for lower third molar surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty patients (ASA I) were scheduled for lower third molar surgery under inferior alveolar nerve block, lingual nerve block and buccal nerve block (mandibular nerve blocks) obtained with 3 ml of 0.5 % levobupivacaine and 3 ml of 0.5 % bupivacaine. Success rate, onset and duration of three nerve bocks were evaluated by electrical pulp testing, pinprick testing and signs of soft tissue anaesthesia (patient-reported numbness). Intensity of intraoperative anaesthesia and postoperative analgesia were measured with visual analogue scale (VAS) and numeric rating scale (NRS). The time of first postoperative pain reported and analgesic consumption were also recorded. The laser Doppler flowmetry was used for the measurement of the first premolar pulpal blood flow. RESULTS: There were no differences between levobupivacaine and bupivacaine regarding the success rate, onset and duration of mandibular nerve blocks as well as intensity of postoperative analgesia and analgesic consumption. Intensity of intraoperative anaesthesia and duration of postoperative analgesia were significantly higher in the levobupivacaine than in the bupivacaine group. Both anaesthetics showed similar biphasic vasoactive effect. CONCLUSIONS: Levobupivacaine 0.5 % achieved superiority over bupivacaine 0.5 % in the intensity of intraoperative anaesthesia and duration of postoperative analgesia for lower third molar surgery under the mandibular nerve blocks. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: It seems that the plain levobupivacaine (0.5 %) could be an effective alternative to plain bupivacaine (0.5 %) in those dental procedures which require profound bone and soft tissue anaesthesia.

Toxicidad de los anestésicos locales. Prevención y tratamiento / Local anesthetic toxicity. Prevention and treatment

Aunque infrecuentes, las reacciones de toxicidad general a los anestésicos locales pueden ser muy graves, y resultar en daño irreversible o muerte del paciente. Por ello se requiere un protocolo de actuación que siga unas líneas claras para el diagnóstico y tratamiento rápidos, que son fundamentales para la recuperación completa del paciente. Se revisa la fisiopatología de la toxicidad por anestésicos locales, así como las posibilidades de prevención y el tratamiento una vez instaurada. Aunque hay pocos aspectos que se puedan basar en la evidencia, se recogen las medidas recomendadas haciendo especial hincapié en la reanimación cardiopulmonar avanzada, el tratamiento farmacológico y el empleo precoz de las emulsiones lipídicas (AU)

Although uncommon, systemic toxic reactions to locally administered anesthetics may be serious and cause irreversible damage or death. Consequently, a protocol providing clear steps for the rapid diagnosis and treatment of these reactions is essential to complete patient recovery. The physiopathology of toxic reactions to local anesthetics is reviewed and prevention and treatment options are discussed. Although there is a scarcity of evidence, recommended measures are discussed with special emphasis on advanced life support, drug treatment and the early use of lipid emulsions (AU)

[Successful infection control in regional anesthesia procedures: observational survey after introduction of the DGAI hygiene recommendations]. / Erfolgreiche Infektionskontrolle bei Regionalanästhesieverfahren: Verlaufsbeobachtung nach Einführung der DGAI-Hygieneempfehlungen.

BACKGROUND: In the context of regional anesthesia procedures adverse events rarely occur but are predominantly systemic intoxication due to local anesthetics (0.01-0.035 %), nerve injuries (0.01-1.7 %) and infections (0-3.2 %). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a level 1 trauma centre data from all continuous peripheral nerve blocks (cPNB) were prospectively acquired over a period of 8 years (2002-2009) in an observational study (n = 10,549). The acquisition of data was carried out in an intranet-based data bank which was accessible for 24 h on every anesthesia workstation. The collected data included type of block, catheter duration and accompanying complications. This study was carried out with special respect to infectious complications (inflammation and infection). RESULTS: In the years 2002-2004 unexpectedly high rates of infectious complications were observed in 3,491 cPNBs with 146 inflammations (4.2 %) and 112 infections (3.2 %). Based on these alarming findings the existing hygiene regime was revised. The innovations were incorporated into the "Hygiene recommendations for the initiation and continued care of regional anaesthetic procedures" of the German Society for Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Anästhesiologie und Intensivmedizin, DGAI). A major change was the extension of skin disinfection to a spray-and-scrub combined procedure lasting 10 min. The introduction of this care bundle was carried out in 2005. Among 7,053 cPNBs that were conducted between 2005 and 2009 inflammation occurred in only 183 procedures (2.6 %) and infection in 61 procedures (0.9 %). This reduction was highly significant in both categories (p < 0.001). The risk factors catheter duration and catheter localization statistically remained unchanged during the observational period CONCLUSION: Using a real-time computer-based tool for data capture makes a veritable detection of adverse events possible. Such a tool also has the power to monitor the effects of changes in clinical procedures (SOP). In this case it was possible to verify the successful introduction of an extended hygiene care bundle. The new regime significantly decreased the rate of infections in cPNB.

Towards evidence-based emergency medicine: best BETs from the Manchester Royal Infirmary. BET 1: Comparison of topical anaesthetic agents for minor wound closure in children.

A short-cut review was carried out to establish whether lignocaine, epinephrine, tetracaine gel is more effective than tetracaine, epinephrine, cocaine gel as a topical anaesthetic agent in minor skin lacerations that still need suturing. Three studies were directly relevant to the question. The author, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes, results and study weaknesses of these papers are tabulated. The clinical bottom line is that lignocaine, epinephrine, tetracaine gel is as effective and is without the inherent disadvantages associated with cocaine.