Intravenous ketamine as an analgesia in prehospital adult trauma patients

Background: Prehospital traumatic pain is common, but the quality of pain management in these patients is poor. Current practice recommends morphine as the first-line analgesia in major trauma but this carries high risks and is often contraindicated. Alternative paramedic-administered analgesia does not provide adequate pain relief or may be contraindicated. As a result, many patients remain in pain. Analgesic ketamine is used safely and effectively in international civilian and military settings and by paramedics with additional training, education and qualifications. Aim: The study had two aims. Namely, these were to find out whether intravenous ketamine: provides effective relief of prehospital traumatic pain in adults; and is safe for prehospital administration by non-specialist paramedics. Method: Three databases, CINAHL, MEDLINE and AMED, were searched to identify articles published between 2009 and 2021. Exclusion criteria were applied and results subjected to critical appraisal and evaluation. Findings: Four studies were included in the review. Two themes were identified for thematic analysis: therapeutic effectiveness; and the safety of IV ketamine administration by paramedics. The evidence drew predominantly homogenous conclusions, but was substandard regarding external validity, which limited the quality of these conclusions. Conclusion: Ketamine provides effective pain relief in line with morphine and is safe for paramedics to administer. However, clear gaps in the evidence mean the research questions are not fully answered, so changes to current paramedic practice cannot be recommended.

P-P18 Thoracic epidural VS intrapleural analgesia for pancreaticoduodenectomy – a study on analgesic and non-analgesic outcomes

Background Thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) has been the traditional option for post-operative pain management for Kausch-Whipple pancreaticoduodenectomy (KWPD) via a ‘reverse L’ incision. An alternative option with inter-pleural analgesia (IPA) has become popular. However, the superior form of analgesia for KWPD regarding analgesic and non-analgesic outcomes is unclear. This study aims to establish if IPA is equivalent to TEA. Methods Retrospective study of all patients who underwent KWPD with ‘reverse L’ incision by a single surgeon between February 2014 to June 2016. All received either IPA or TEA post-operatively; patients who had rectus sheath catheter and spinal anaesthesia were excluded. To reduce bias, the Anaesthetist, rather than Surgeon, decided the choice of analgesia based on personal skill. Efficacy regarding analgesia were collected by nursing staff as patient-reported pain severity (mild, moderate or severe). Data were collected from patient case notes and electronic records. This study analysed analgesia efficacy, complications, inotrope use, and intensive treatment unit (ITU) stay. Results A total of 40 included in the study. Twenty-two patients had TEA (45% female, median age 68 years) and 18 had IPA (44% female, median age 67 years). Median Charleson Comorbidity Index (CCI) was 5 for both. Patient-reported pain was not statistically different (p = 0.15). We noted more analgesia complications with TEA (not working=4, leakage=2, haemodynamic instability=1, lower limb anaesthesia=1) than IPA (leakage=1; p = 0.027). Eleven (50%) TEA and eight (44%) IPA patients required inotropes. TEA patients required significantly longer duration (median duration 35 VS 18 hours, p = 0.047). Median ITU stay was 3 and 2 days for TEA and IPA patients, respectively. Conclusions Both TEA and IPA provide adequate pain relief for KWPD performed via a ‘reversed L’ incision. However, evidence suggests TEA was associated with significantly more analgesia-related complications and longer inotropic requirements. Furthermore, there was also a trend towards ITU stays with TEA. Therefore, we would recommend the use of inter-pleural analgesia over thoracic epidural.

The use of perineural dexamethasone and transverse abdominal plane block for postoperative analgesia in cesarean section operations under spinal anesthesia: an observational study

Background During transverses abdominal plane block (TAP) procedure to provide analgesia in cesarean section (CS) operation, the use of perineural dexamethasone as an additive agent may improve pain relief and may cause a prolonged block duration. This study aims to investigate whether perineural dexamethasone, when added to bupivacaine local anesthetic agent during a TAP block, may provide adequate pain relief without adverse events. Methods This is a prospective cohort study of fifty-eight patients undergoing elective CS with spinal anesthesia. We hypothesized to perform bilateral TAP block using perineural dexamethasone as an additive agent. The patients were randomly divided into two groups using a systematic random sampling method. While one group of patients received perineural dexamethasone of 8 mg additive agent together with bupivacaine 0.25% 40 ml (Group TAPD), the other group received only bupivacaine 0.25% 40 ml in TAP block (Group TAPA). The primary outcomes are the period for the first request of postoperative pain relief medication and the numerical rating scale (NRS) pain intensity scores at 2, 6, 12, and 24 h after surgery. The secondary outcomes are comparing the 24-h tramadol and diclofenac analgesic requirements and the incidences of side effects on postoperative day one. A p-value of < 0.05 is statistically significant. Results The time to first analgesic request was 8.5 h (8.39–9.79) in the TAPD group versus 5.3 h (5.23–5.59) in the TAPA group, respectively. (p < 0.001) The median NRS scores were significantly reduced in the TAPD group compared to the TAPA group at 6, 12, and 24 h after surgery (p-values < 0.001). The total analgesics consumption over 24 h postoperatively was lower in Group TAPD compared to Group TAPA (p < 0.05). Conclusion An additive agent of perineural dexamethasone at a dose of 8 mg during bilateral TAP block for elective CS operation under spinal anesthesia provided better pain relief on postoperative day 1.

Intravenous Dexamethasone as an Adjuvant to Caudal Analgesia for Post Herniotomy Pain

Objective: To compare the outcomes of caudal block with or without intravenous dexamethasone in controlling post-herniotomy pain in pediatric population Patients and Methods: A total of 90 patients who underwent inguinal herniotomy were included in this prospective comparative study. The study was conducted in a tertiary care setup in Qatar from Jan-2020 to May-2021. Patients were randomly allocated to two groups. Group A (dexamethasone) patients received dexamethasone intravenous 0.25 mg/kg in 5 ml of distilled water, 10 minutes before surgery. Group B (control) received 5 ml of normal saline, 10 minutes before surgery. The patients were followed for up to 240 minutes after surgery to determine adequate pain relief. Results: Mean age of the children included in this study was 7.11±1.95 years. There were 46 (51.1%) female children and 44 (48.9%) male children. Adequate post-operative pain relief was achieved in 30 (33.33%) patients, while rescue analgesia was needed in remaining 60 (66.67%) patients. Adequate pain relief was achieved in 24 (53.3%) children in dexamethasone group and in only 06 (13.3%) children in control group (p-value 0.001). Conclusion: In children undergoing herniotomy, Intravenous 0.25 mg/Kg of dexamethasone when used as an adjunct to bupivacaine for caudal block significantly reduces post-operative pain. Keywords: Caudal Block, intravenous dexamethasone, Post-operative pain Relief.

ENDOMETRIAL RECEPTIVITY AS THE KEY TO THE SUCCESS OF ART PROGRAMS: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Relevance: To date, the success of in vitro fertilization (IVF) programs in Kazakhstan is 38%. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the mechanisms of influence of various risk factors on endometrial receptivity in women in IVF programs. Materials and Methods: This review was based on a search conducted for domestic and foreign publications available in Russian and international search systems (PubMed, eLibrary) for the past 25 years. Results: Chronic endometritis is a verified cause of impaired receptivity. Many studies have proven the beneficial effect of complex empirical treatment using antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, hormonal therapy with transdermal forms of estrogens and vitamin therapy on the outcome of IVF. Conclusion: The problem of recurrent implantation disorders in IVF programs is multifactorial. Women with unrealized reproductive function require rehabilitation after an unsuccessful fertilization attempt to prevent disorders of homeostasis and ensure adequate pain relief during transvaginal puncture of ovarian follicles. In addition to hormone therapy with transdermal forms of estradiol, complex rehabilitation measures shall include immunomodulatory therapy, psychotherapy, and vitamin therapy.

Ultrasound-Guided Superficial Serratus Plane Block for Persistent Post-Mastectomy Pain: Four Case Reports

Background: Persistent post-mastectomy pain (PPMP) is common after surgery. Although multiple modalities have been used to treat this type of pain, including physical medicine, physical therapy and interventional approaches, managing PPMP may be still a challenge for breast cancer survivors. Currently, serratus plane block (SPB) as a novel regional anesthetic technique shows promising results for controlling chronic pain. Methods: We report four cases of patients with PPMP that were performed using superficial serratus plane block (SSPB) at our clinic. A retrospective review of effect of pain relief was collected through postprocedure interviews.Results: We found that two of our patients were successfully treated with SSPB for pain after treatment for breast cancer. The third patient had an intercostobrachial nerve block that produced incomplete pain relief, but had adequate pain relief with a SSPB. However, the fourth patient reported no pain relief after SSPB.Conclusion: These cases illustrate that the patients with PPMP could benefit from SSPB. Particularly, we find patients with a subjective sense of “tightness” relating to reconstructive surgeries may be a good candidate for SSPB. Further studies are warranted to evaluate this block for PPMP, as it is low risk and relatively simple to perform.

Diaphyseal Proximal Phalangeal Shortening Osteotomy for Correction of Hammertoe Deformity: Operative Technique and Radiological Outcomes

Background Correction of hammertoe deformities at the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint results in an inherent loss of motion that can be a concern for active patients who want to maintain toe function and grip strength. Diaphyseal proximal phalangeal shortening osteotomy (DPPSO) is a joint-sparing procedure resecting a cylindrical portion of the proximal phalanx on the middiaphysis. Patients/Methods This was a retrospective review including patients treated using DPPSO with at least a 1-year follow-up. Demographic, comorbidity, and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores and complication data were obtained. Radiological assessment included union status and alignment. Medial frontal anatomical (mFAA), frontal proximal interphalangeal (mFIA), plantar lateral anatomical (pLAA), and medial and plantar lateral interphalangeal angles (pLIA) were measured. Results A total of 31 patients (45 toes) were included, with a mean age of 59 years (range: 24-72) and follow-up of 35 months (range: 12-60; mean preoperative VAS score was 4.9 ± 1.72 improving to 1.62 ± 2.28; P < .01). Union occurred in all patients at an average of 11.2 weeks. Complications were present on 4 toes (8.8%), with no recurrences. The pLIA significantly changed from 44.9° to 17.9°. There were no significant differences in the preoperative and postoperative values of the mFAA, pLAA, and mFIA. Conclusions DPPSO provides adequate pain relief and corrects the PIP joint in the lateral plane without significantly affecting the coronal plane or the anatomical axis of the phalanx in the frontal and lateral views, nor producing secondary deformities. DPPSO is a safe, effective, and reproducible technique with a low complication rate. Levels of Evidence: Level IV: Retrospective case series

Changes in management of patients with diseases of musculoskeletal system and joints

Pain syndrome accompanies the vast majority of diseases; therefore, the issues of adequate pain relief remain topical not only for urgent conditions, but also for everyday medical practice. Modern and changed in recent years approaches to the appointment of anesthetic therapy should take into account not only the pathogenetic mechanisms of the development of pain syndrome in a particular patient, but also the need to use drug combinations. This allows for the potentiation of the analgesic effect, reduction of effective dosages of individual drugs and minimization of side effects. In case of severe pain syndrome in the presence of signs of impaired nociception, neuropathic and muscle-fascial pain syndromes, the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in conjunction with group B vitamins is justified. The article considers the pathogenetic details of such a combination therapy, reveals the mechanisms of the cooperative action of the proposed combination of drugs.

Generalized tetanus in an 11-year-old boy: A case report

The study presents a case report of a generalized form of severe tetanus in an unvaccinated 11-year-old child. Pain and convulsive syndromes, respiratory failure, and damage to the gastrointestinal tract prevailed in the acute period. Antibiotic therapy, anti-tetanus serum, adequate pain relief, and anticonvulsant therapy were the leading treatments of the child. Moreover, the paper discusses literature data on the options for the clinical course and choice of treatment strategies. The lack of planned vaccination in children is unsafe.

Occipital Nerve Blockade for the Treatment of Occipital Neuralgia-Like Acute Postcraniotomy Headache: A Retrospective Study

Objective. The therapeutic effectiveness and safety of occipital nerve blockade (ONB) on occipital neuralgia- (ON-) like acute postcraniotomy headache (ON-APCH) was evaluated. Background. Persistent occipital neuralgia is a subclassification of chronic postcraniotomy headache and has been investigated sporadically in previous publications. The long-lasting neuralgic pain significantly impairs postoperative recovery and quality of life. However, little is known regarding ON-APCH and its management. Methods. All data were retrospectively acquired from consultation records and electronic institutional medical documents. Forty-one patients, who developed drug-resistant ON-APCH after elective craniotomy and received ONB with lidocaine for diagnoses, were included in this study, all of whom were treated using dexamethasone and lidocaine. Pain intensity and ONB correlated complications and side effects were collected and analyzed at three different time points: before ONB, at 1 day after ONB, and at discharge. Results. Nineteen males and twenty-two females aged 49.6 ± 15.2 years were diagnosed with drug-resistant ON-APCH. The mean NRS was 8.0 ± 0.9 before ONB, which later significantly decreased to 2.1 ± 1.4 and 1.6 ± 0.6 at 1 day after ONB and on discharge, respectively. At 1 month after ONB, thirty patients (73%) obtained complete pain relief without medication. At 3 months after ONB, only two (5%) patients had to continue oral medications to maintain pain relief. No adverse effects or complications were observed immediately after, or within 3 months, of the nerve blockade. Conclusions. For drug-resistant ON-APCH, early occipital nerve blockade with dexamethasone and lidocaine is an effective and safe technique, which provides adequate pain relief and may prevent further development of persistent presentation of refractory ON.