Short beveled sharp cutting needle is superior to facet tip needle for ultrasound-guided rectus sheath block in children with umbilical hernia: a case series.

BACKGROUND: The most common peripheral nerve blocks used in umbilical hernia repair are rectus sheath block and regional block (caudal block). Ultrasound guidance of peripheral nerve blocks has reduced the number of complications and improved the quality of blocks. The aim of this study is to assess the post rectus sheath block pain relief in pediatric patients coming for umbilical surgery, and to evaluate the easiness of soft tissue puncture and ultrasonic appearance of two different needle types. METHODS: Twenty two (22) pediatric patients (age range: 1.5-8 years) scheduled for umbilical hernia repair were included in the study. Following the induction of general anesthesia, the ultrasonographic anatomy of the umbilical region was studied with a 5-16 MHz linear probe. An ultrasound-guided rectus sheath block in the lateral edge of both rectus abdominis muscles (RMs) was performed (total of 44 punctures). A 22 gauge short beveled sharp cutting needle 1.1 x 30 mm needle A (BD Insyte--W, Vialon material. Spain) was used in one side, and a Stimuplex A insulated Needle 22G 50mm (needle B) was used on the other side. Surgical conditions, intraoperative hemodynamic parameters, and postoperative analgesia were evaluated. RESULTS: Ultrasonograghic visualization of the posterior sheath was possible in all patients. Needle A scored 72.7% of excellent needle tip and shaft view (16 out of 22) compared to 63.63% for needle B (14 out of 22). None of the needles scored poor view. The ultrasound guided rectus sheath blockade provided sufficient analgesia in all children with no need for additional analgesia except for one child who postoperatively requested morphine 0.1 mg/kg intravenously in recovery room. There were no complications. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound guidance enables performances of an effective rectus sheath block for umbilical hernia in the lateral edge of the rectus muscle. Use of the sharp short beveled needle of 22 gauge intravenous (IV) cannula stylet provides easy, less traumatic skin and rectus muscle penetration and better needle visualization by the ultrasound.

Ulnar nerve to musculocutaneous nerve transfer in an ulnar ray-deficient infant with brachial plexus birth palsy: case report.

In Oberlin's nerve transfer, a fascicle of the ulnar nerve is sutured end-to-end to the branch of musculocutaneous nerve to the biceps muscle in the arm. This transfer is commonly used in adult traumatic C5-C6 avulsion injuries of the brachial plexus. We report the successful use of Oberlin nerve transfer in an ulnar ray-deficient infant with brachial plexus birth palsy.

Great auricular nerve blockade using high resolution ultrasound: a volunteer study.

This prospective, observational volunteer study aimed to describe the appearance of the great auricular nerve using ultrasound and its blockade under ultrasound guidance. An in-plane needle guidance technique was used for blockade of the great auricular nerve with 0.1 ml mepivacaine 1%. Sensory block was evaluated by pinprick testing in comparison with the contralateral area propriae. The great auricular nerve was successfully seen in all volunteers and the tail of the helix, antitragus, lobula and mandibular angle were blocked in all cases whereas the antihelix and concha were never blocked. Ultrasound imaging of the great auricular nerve can be reliably achieved and successful blockade with minimal volumes of local anaesthetic is another example of the benefits of ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve blocks.

Ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block: description of a new technique and comparison with conventional systemic analgesia during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: The transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is usually performed by landmark-based methods. This prospective, randomized, and double-blinded study was designed to describe a method of ultrasound-guided TAP block and to evaluate the intra- and postoperative analgesic efficacy in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anaesthesia with or without TAP block. METHODS: Forty-two patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomized to receive standard general anaesthetic either with (Group A, n=21) or without TAP block (Group B, n=21). Ultrasound-guided bilateral TAP block was performed with a high frequent linear ultrasound probe and an in-plane needle guidance technique with 15 ml bupivacaine 5 mg ml(-1) on each side. Intraoperative use of sufentanil and postoperative demand of morphine using a patient-controlled analgesia device were recorded. RESULTS: Ultrasonographic visualization of the relevant anatomy, detection of the shaft and tip of the needle, and the spread of local anaesthetic were possible in all cases where a TAP block was performed. Patients in Group A received significantly less [corrected] intraoperative sufentanil and postoperative morphine compared with those in Group B [mean (SD) 8.6 (3.5) vs 23.0 (4.8) microg, P<0.01, and 10.5 (7.7) vs 22.8 (4.3) mg, P<0.05]. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasonographic guidance enables exact placement of the local anaesthetic for TAP blocks. In patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy under standard general anaesthetic, ultrasound-guided TAP block substantially reduced the perioperative opioid consumption.