The spread of injectate after deep serratus anterior plane and superficial parasternal intercostal plane blocks: a cadaveric dye study.

We investigated the distribution of injected dye after deep serratus anterior plane and superficial parasternal intercostal plane blocks in 15 Thiel embalmed cadavers. We injected 0.4 ml.kg-1 of 0.25% aqueous methylene blue solution into the deep serratus anterior and superficial parasternal intercostal planes using real-time ultrasound needle visualisation followed by posterior dissection to observe the distribution of the injected dye in the chest wall. The two blocks were performed bilaterally in 15 cadavers at the T5/T6 level, comprising 60 blocks in 30 hemithoraces in total. At dissection, the intercostal nerve territories were observed to be dyed completely from T2 to T6 in 28 of 30 hemithoraces, and extending caudal to T6 in 10 hemithoraces. Following the deep serratus anterior plane blocks in all cadavers, the dye was found to have spread to the axillae. Following the superficial parasternal intercostal plane blocks, the dye reached T7 in four cadaver dissections. We concluded that the territories innervated by the intercostal nerves (T2-T6 dermatomes) are dyed following the combination of the two blocks when performed at the T5-T6 intercostal space level. These techniques might provide an effective option for anaesthesia in breast surgery.

Gestión del dolor agudo postoperatorio: condiciones para garantizar la seguridad y la efectividad de los tratamientos analgésicos / Management of acute postoperative pain: Conditions to guarantee the safety and effectiveness of analgesic treatments

La evidencia sobre la gestión del dolor postoperatorio presenta un grado de calidad bajo o insuficiente. El Grupo de Trabajo del Dolor Agudo SEDAR ha elaborado este documento-guía para aplicar la mejor evidencia científica disponible a la práctica clínica habitual, individualizándolo en función de factores propios del paciente y del procedimiento, y englobando las distintas opciones organizativas del control de dolor.El documento profundiza y actualiza conceptos y requisitos mínimos necesarios para una analgesia óptima postoperatoria, el abordaje multidisciplinar y la gestión del dolor agudo postoperatorio. Se definen y se describen líneas estratégicas y los distintos modelos de gestión. Se establece un plan de actuación general perioperatoria basado en la colaboración con los servicios quirúrgicos implicados, en la revisión conjunta de la evidencia y en la elaboración de protocolos por procedimiento. Finalmente, se presenta un plan de seguimiento y los indicadores mínimos necesarios para un control de calidad del dolor postoperatorio. (AU)

The evidence on postoperative pain management is of low or insufficient quality. The SEDAR Acute Pain Working Group has prepared this guideline-document to apply the best available scientific evidence to clinical practice, individualizing it based on factors specific to the patient and the procedure, and encompassing different organizational options, attempting to individualize it based on specific factors of the patient and the procedure, and encompassing the different organizational options for pain control.The document updates concepts and minimum requirements necessary for optimal postoperative analgesia, a multidisciplinary approach and the management of acute postoperative pain. Strategic lines and different management models are defined. A general perioperative action plan is established based on collaboration with the surgical departments involved, on the joint review of the evidence and on preparation of protocols by the procedure. Finally, a follow-up plan and a series of minimum indicators necessary for quality control of postoperative pain are presented. (AU)

Management of acute postoperative pain: Conditions to guarantee the safety and effectiveness of analgesic treatments.

The evidence on postoperative pain management is of low or insufficient quality. The SEDAR Acute Pain Working Group has prepared this guideline-document to apply the best available scientific evidence to clinical practice, individualizing it based on factors specific to the patient and the procedure, and encompassing different organizational options, attempting to individualize it based on specific factors of the patient and the procedure, and encompassing the different organizational options for pain control. The document updates concepts and minimum requirements necessary for optimal postoperative analgesia, a multidisciplinary approach and the management of Acute Postoperative Pain. Strategic lines and different management models are defined. A general perioperative action plan is established based on collaboration with the surgical departments involved, on the joint review of the evidence and on preparation of protocols by the procedure. Finally, a follow-up plan and a series of minimum indicators necessary for quality control of postoperative pain are presented.

El problema no resuelto del dolor postoperatorio: análisis crítico y propuestas de mejora / The unsolved problem of postoperative pain: critical analysis and prospects for improvement

Anualmente se ha observado un ascenso del 5 % en la intervenciones quirúrgicas realizadas mundialmente, junto con un incremento en la complejidad de las mismas, así como en la comorbilidades de los pacientes. No obstante, entre el 30-80 % de los pacientes experimentan dolor agudo postoperatorio (DAP) mode­rado-intenso tras las primeras 24 horas de postoperatorio, a pesar de un mejor conocimiento fisiopatológico, el empleo de nuevas técnicas y fármacos analgésicos, la publicación de nuevas guías y la creación de las Unidades de Dolor Agudo (UDA). Además, hemos de tener presente a los pacientes vulnerables (población pediátrica, gestantes, ancianos, etc.) y a los consumidores crónicos de opioides, que habitualmente son desviaciones de los protocolos analgésicos y, por tanto, nos sitúan en un escenario en el que el manejo del dolor postoperatorio es más difícil y obliga al diseño de estrategias personalizadas a cada paciente. Se ha de tener también presente que un inadecuado control del DAP puede dar lugar a una cronificación del dolor postoperatorio, suponiendo un auténtico reto te­rapéutico para las unidades de dolor crónico, junto con un deterioro de la calidad de vida del paciente debido a sus repercusiones físicas, psicológicas y económicas. A través de este manuscrito, pretendemos realizar un análisis crítico y proponer puntos de mejora en la forma en la que gestionamos actualmente el DAP, basándonos en la evidencia científica para la obtención de mejores resultados postoperatorios en los próximos años.(AU)

Annually, a 5 % rise has been observed in surgical interventions performed worldwide, together with an increase in their complexity as well as in patient comorbidities. However, between 30-80 % of patients experience moderate-intense acute postoperative pain (APD) after the first 24 postoperative hours, despite better pathophysiological knowledge, use of new techniques and analgesic drugs, publication of new guidelines and the creation of the Acute Pain Units (UDA). In addition, we must bear in mind vulnerable patients (pediatric population, pregnant women, the elderly, ...) and chronic opioid users who are usually deviations from analgesic protocols and, therefore, place us in a scenario in which the management of Postoperative pain is more difficult and requires the design of personalized strategies for each patient. It must also be borne in mind that inadequate PDA control can lead to chronic postoperative pain, posing a real therapeutic challenge for Chronic Pain Units, toge­ther with a deterioration in the patient's quality of life due to its physical repercussions, psychological and economic. Through this manuscript, we intend to carry out a critical analysis and propose points for improvement in the way we currently manage DAP based on scientific evidence to obtain better postoperative results in the coming years.(AU)

Descriptive study of ultrasound images of the upper airway obtained after insertion of laryngeal mask. / Imágenes ultrasonográficas de vía aérea superior tras la inserción de mascarilla laríngea: estudio descriptivo y utilidad clínica.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinical usefulness of ultrasound images of the upper airway in order to check correct laryngeal mask placement. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted on patients scheduled for abdominal surgery under general anaesthesia, in whom the patency of the upper airway was ensured using an Ambu®AuraGainTM laryngeal mask. An ultrasound scan was performed of the upper-airway in the cranio-caudal direction and with longitudinal scans in the anterior midline and parasagittal axis, in three moments: before, after inserting and after removing the mask. All recorded images were evaluated in a second time by a radiologist-expert in upper airway ultrasound. Subsequently, the ultrasound data were related to the clinical difficulty of the insertion and presence of air leaks. RESULTS: Data was collected from 30 patients (20 females and 10 males) being operated on for abdominal hysterectomy (15), eventroplasty (6), uterine myomectomy (3), and umbilical (4) and inguinal herniorrhaphy (2). The blind insertion of the masks did not present difficulties in 24 (80%) patients. Air leakage was detected in 8 (26.7%) patients, which was moderate in 7 cases and severe in one of them. The ultrasound findings confirmed good mask placement in 22 (73.3%) patients. Anatomical airway changes after laryngeal mask extraction were only observed in 3 (12%) patients, all of them minor. There was a statistically significant association (P<.05) between difficulty in inserting the device and the level of air leakage. CONCLUSIONS: Upper airway ultrasound is a useful diagnostic method to evaluate laryngeal mask placement. Laryngeal oedema was not observed after removal of the device.

Serratus-intercostal interfascial block as an opioid-saving strategy in supra-umbilical open surgery. / Bloqueo interfascial serrato-intercostal como estrategia ahorradora de opioides en cirugía supraumbilical abierta.

INTRODUCTION: The administration of local anaesthetic in the serratus-intercostal space provides adequate analgesia in non-reconstructive breast surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the blockage of the last intercostal nerves (T7-T11) can lead to opioid savings in supra-umbilical open surgery procedures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted on patients undergoing open supra-umbilical surgery under general anaesthesia and with a serratus-intercostal plane block [modified Blocking the bRanches of IntercostaL nerves in the Middle Axillary line (BRILMA)] as an associated analgesic strategy. Post-operative pain was assessed with the numerical verbal scale (NVS 0 to 10) on admission to the post-anAesthesia recovery unit, at 6, 12, 24, and 48h postintervention and by need for analgesic rescues with opioids (2mg iv of morphine, if values higher than 3 in NVS). Adverse events related to the technique were also recorded. The statistical package used in the analysis of the data was SPSS® for Windows. RESULTS: The study recruited 52 patients. Differences, with a p<.05, were found intra-operatively in the consumption of fentanyl: 400 + 80µg versus 110 + 50µg in patients who underwent pre-incisional blockade. In the first 24hours, only 3 cases (two gastrectomies and one cholecystectomy) required morphine (single bolus of 2mg). Between 24h and 48h it was necessary to administer several morphine boluses (8 + 2mg) in four patients (three gastrectomies and one cholecystectomy). Four patients presented with nausea and / or vomiting and there were no complications related to the analgesic technique. CONCLUSION: The intercostal nerves block (T7-T11) in the serratus-intercostal space may constitute an opioid-sparing analgesic strategy in open supra-umbilical surgery.

Quality of postoperative recovery after breast surgery. General anaesthesia combined with paravertebral versus serratus-intercostal block. / Calidad de la recuperación posquirúrgica tras cirugía de mama. Anestesia general combinada con bloqueo paravertebral versus bloqueo del espacio serrato-intercostal.

INTRODUCTION: The quality of postoperative recovery is one of the most important among all the quality indicators used in clinical situations. This is even more important after cancer surgery. Our aim was to evaluate this after non-reconstructive breast surgery under general anesthesia and paravertebral blockade or serratus-intercostal plane blockade, in the early and late post-operative period. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted on 60 patients (25 paravertebral blockade group and 35 serratus-intercostal plane blockade group) scheduled for non-reconstructive breast surgery during a 6 month period. Every patient received general anaesthesia and were randomised to receive either paravertebral blockade or serratus-intercostal plane blockade. The quality of post-anaesthetic recovery was quantified by Postoperative Quality Recovery Scale, which is used to assess physiological, nociceptive, emotional, autonomy, cognitive and general state domains at different times: baseline (before surgery), 15min after the end of surgery, at discharge to home, and one month after surgery. RESULTS: A total recovery of 95.93% was achieved in the early postoperative period (15min PACU), 99.07% at discharge to home, and 99.25% at one month after the intervention. No significant differences were found between groups in total score or in each evaluated area. CONCLUSIONS: A progressive improvement was observed in the scores assessed with the Postoperative Quality Recovery Scale, reaching values that would allow the discharge to home and early return to usual active life from the immediate postoperative period, with no significant differences between the 2 analgesic techniques. Savings in opioid use and the excellent recovery were observed in all measured domains observed.