Peripheral Nerve Stimulator-Guided Regional Anaesthesia for Modified Radical Mastectomy in High-Risk Patients – A Case Series

Thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) is an effective and time-tested regional anesthesia (RA) technique of anesthesia/analgesia for breast surgeries. It can be performed by landmark guided, peripheral nerve stimulator (PNS) guided or ultrasound-guided techniques. We used PNS guided TPVB for carcinoma breast surgery in fifteen high-risk patients where general anesthesia was not feasible. All patients had undergone surgeries under standalone RA techniques and without any block-related complications. We describe 15 cases in which PNS guided TPVB and supraclavicular brachial plexus block were performed to conduct modified radical mastectomy under RA and monitored anesthesia care. Keywords: Paravertebral block, Supraclavicular brachial plexus block, Carcinoma breast, Postoperative analgesia.

Successful Treatment of Occipital Neuralgia in a Pediatric Patient with the Use of Peripheral Nerve Stimulator: A Case Report

BACKGROUND: Neuromodulation is a commonly used technique in adult pain management, with current off-label use of peripheral nerve stimulators for the treatment of occipital neuralgia. This targeted therapy can help avoid systemic medications and treat refractory symptoms. CASE REPORT: We present a 17-year-old boy with significant lesser occipital neuralgia and hydrocephalus status post ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement. He had occipital neuralgia treatment failures with both medication trials and surgical decompression in conjunction with physical and psychological therapies, eventually requiring weekly lesser occipital nerve blocks for pain relief. Our patient experienced a substantial reduction in pain and increase in functional recovery after the placement of a permanent peripheral nerve stimulator without disruption of his ventriculoperitoneal shunt. CONCLUSION: Peripheral nerve stimulator implantation can be safe and efficacious for the treatment of refractory occipital neuralgia in a pediatric patient with an ipsilateral ventriculoperitoneal shunt. KEY WORDS: Peripheral nerve stimulation, occipital neuralgia, pediatric, chronic pain, neuromodulation

A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN CLASSIC AND INTERADDUCTOR APPROACH OF OBTURATOR NERVE BLOCK WITH ROPIVACAINE IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING TRANSURETHRAL RESECTION OF BLADDER TUMOUR UNDER SPINAL ANAESTHESIA.

Background: The most signicant use of ONB i.e., obturator nerve block is to prevent adductor muscle contraction associated with Transurethral resection of bladder tumours (TURBT). Adductor jerk during TURBT may cause serious injury to urinary bladder like laceration with involvement of blood vessels, severe bleeding, bladder wall tear and perforation and even partial resection of bladder tumour due to frequent distraction and interruption to the surgeon.1 So, there is need for evaluation and comparison of different techniques of ONB in view of safety and efcacy. We have conducted a randomized clinical study to compare the classic pubic and inter adductor approach for ONB with spinal anaesthesia for transurethral resection of bladder wall tumour masses. Method: A total number of 50 patients of either sex of ASA physical status I or II, of age group 30-75 years, who were posted for TURBT operation under spinal anaesthesia, were included in this study. A Prospective single blind randomised controlled trial and cross over study was conducted. Peripheral nerve stimulator to localize the nerve and Inj. Ropivacaine 0.5% ,15 ml on each side was used in this study. Result: The overall success rate in classic pubic approach was slightly lower than interadductor approach which was statistically insignicant. There were more instances of vessel puncture in pubic approach, which was statistically signicant (p value = 0.016). There was no incidence of other signicant complications. Conclusion: In terms of ease of obturator nerve block and incidence of complications the interadductor approach is better than classic pubic approach.

Braquial Plexus Block and Lumbosacral Epidural in a South American Coati (Nasua nasua)

Background: The South American coatis (Nasua nasua) are capable of adapting to different habitats, which allowed them to exchange between domestic and wild areas, increasing the occurrence of traumas. Procedures performed in this species demand anesthetic protocols that take comorbidities into account and cause minimal cardiorespiratory depression as well as rapid recovery. It is in such context that locoregional anesthesia has become an essential tool. Thus, we aim to report the use of two techniques of locoreginal block: brachial plexus block and lumbosacral epidural block, in a Nasua nasua submitted to osteosynthesis of the radius and caudectomy due to trauma.Case: A adult male coati weighing 2.3 kg was referred to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of the Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR) - Setor Palotina with a history of trauma. Physical examination showed crackling in the radius and ulnar region, and also abnormal angulation in the distal portion of the tail. After taking x-rays, fractures were confirmed in the distal radius and in the distal portion of the tail. The patient was referred for surgery. After 8 h of water and food withdrawal, the animal was premedicated with a combination of ketamine (10 mg/kg), midazolam (0.3 mg/kg) and methadone (0.2 mg/kg), intramuscularly (IM). Induction of anesthesia was performed with propofol titrated to effect (total dose 4 mg/kg) and anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane in spontaneous ventilation using a non-rebreathing circuit (Baraka). It was evaluated heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RF), end-tidal CO2 (EtCO2), expired isoflurane fraction (FE´Iso), oxyhemoglobin saturation (SpO2), electrocardiography (ECG), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and core temperature (CT) using a multiparametric monitor. After the stabilization period, the animal was positioned in lateral recumbence. A subscapular brachial plexus block was performed with bupivacaine (0.2 mL/kg) using a peripheral nerve stimulator to ensure the correct perineural deposition of the local anesthetic. During anesthesia, rescue analgesia was administered when there was a 20% increase in HR, RR or SBP compared to baseline values. Thus, in this case, two rescues with fentanyl (2 µg/kg) were necessary. The animal remained stable and, at the end of the first procedure, he was placed in ventral recumbence, with the hindlimbs pulled cranially in order to locate the lumbosacral space. Epidural injection was performed with lidocaine (0.18 mL/kg). Rescue analgesia was not necessary during the caudectomy procedure. The procedure had a total duration of 3 h and extubation occurred 3 min after inhalation anesthesia withdrawal. At the end of the surgery, the animal was medicated with meloxicam (0.1 mg/kg) and methadone (0.2 mg/kg). Two h after the end of the surgery, the animal was able to feed again.Discussion: The literature is scarce regarding anesthetic techniques in the Nasua nasua species, especially in the context of locoregional anesthesia. In this report, the protocol used as pre-anesthetic medication was considered satisfactory. Brachial plexus block is a safe technique for desensitizing the forelimb for surgical procedures distal to the scapulohumeral joint. Despite some morphological differences in the spinal anatomy of coatis, there was no difficulty in identifying the epidural space or inserting the needle. The absence of complications, and the hemodynamic stability during the anesthesia period, combined with the satisfactory recovery of the patient points to the success of the techniques used in the present report.

Peripheral Nerve Stimulator (PNS) Versus Trans-Arterial (TA) Techniques for Axillary Brachial Plexus Block

Background: Axillary brachial plexus block is one of the widely used techniques for upper extremity surgery. Peripheral nerve blocks (PNB) provide optimal surgical conditions while providing prolonged post-operative analgesia. The transarterial (TA) technique of axillary brachial plexus block is a well established method of producing regional anaesthesia for surgeries at or below elbow. In this prospective randomized study we compared, “peripheral nerve stimulator (PNS) versus trans-arterial (TA) techniques for axillary brachial plexus block” Methods: In this prospective, randomized study 80 patients, age>18 year, ASA-I & II, were divided randomly into two groups PNS and TA. In PNS groups 40 patients received axillary approach of brachial plexus block with the help of peripheral nerve stimulator, and rest TA group received axillary block through transarterial approach. Local anaesthetic 0.25% bupivacaine 15ml+1% lignocaine with adrenaline (1:200,000) 20 ml was used. Then success rate of two different methods of block were compared. Other parameters of comparison was block performance time of block, onset of sensory and motor block, failure rate, analgesia required etcetera. Results: The success rate of the block in PNS group was 90% and the success rate of TA group was 85% and there was no significant difference in success rate. Performance time was significantly low in trans-arterial axillary approach of brachial plexus block (p<0.005). There was no significant difference in onset of motor and sensory block. The sensory and motor functions returned properly in all patients. Conclusion: In our study we found that the PNS guided axillary block and TA injection axillary brachial plexus block provide similar success rate, and onset of block when musculocutaneous nerve blocked separately in the both techniques. Keywords: Axillary brachial plexus block, Trans-arterial approach, Peripheral nerve stimulator.

Block characteristics of Dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to local anaesthetic in Infraclavicular brachial plexus block using peripheral nerve stimulator and ultrasound

Introduction: Dexmedetomidine has been frequently used in regional anaesthesia to improve the quality of blocks. Addition of dexmedetomidine to local anaesthetics has been shown to hasten the onset of both sensory and motor blocks and also prolong the duration of analgesia. The objective of this prospective comparative study was to assess the change in characteristics of infraclavicular brachial plexus block after adding Inj. Dexmedetomidine to 2% Lignocaine with Adrenaline. Methods: Sixty-six patients, scheduled for upper limb surgeries under ultrasound guided infraclavicular brachial plexus block were randomly allocated to two groups. Group LS received Inj. Lignocaine 2% with Adrenaline, 7mg/kg diluted to 30 ml with saline and Group LD received Inj. Dexmedetomidine 0.75 mcg/kg in addition to Inj. Lignocaine 2% with Adrenaline, 7mg/kg again diluted to a total volume of 30 ml. The parameters studied were: onset of sensory and motor blocks and duration of analgesia. Results: Sixty patients completed the study. The demographic variables and motor block were similar between both groups. The mean time to onset of sensory block was significantly faster in Group LD compared to Group LS (9.80±4.85 min vs 12.30±3.97 min, p=0.033). The duration of analgesia was also found to be prolonged in Group LD compared to Group LS (286.73±55.38 min vs 226.53±41.19 min, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Addition of 0.75 mcg/kg of Dexmedetomidine to 2% Lignocaine with Adrenaline hastens the onset of sensory block and prolongs the duration of analgesia in ultrasound guided and peripheral nerve stimulator guided infraclavicular block.