Search

An infraclavicular catheter is a very efficient technique to provide excellent perioperative anesthesia/analgesia for upper limb surgery. However, complications can occur and are dependent on the technique used. We report the inadvertent placement of an infraclavicular catheter in the interscalene region when an ultrasound-guided infraclavicular catheter was threaded cranially. We proposed some strategies to avoid the occurrence of complications when performing this block.

BACKGROUND Intra-operative muscle relaxation is often required in orthopaedic surgery and the hand train-of-four (TOF) test is usually used for its quantification. However, even though full muscle relaxation is claimed by anaesthesiologists based on a TOF count of zero, surgeons observe residual muscle activity. OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to assess if hand or foot TOF adequately represents intra-operative muscle relaxation compared with multiple motor evoked potentials. DESIGN Prospective observational study. SETTING A single-centre study performed between February 2016 and December 2018 at the Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland. PATIENTS Twenty patients scheduled for elective lumbar spinal fusion were prospectively enrolled in this study after giving written informed consent. INTERVENTIONS To assess neuromuscular blockade (NMB) with the intermediate duration nondepolarising neuromuscular blocking agent rocuronium, hand TOF (adductor pollicis) and foot TOF (flexor hallucis brevis) monitoring, and muscle motor evoked potentials (MMEPs) from the upper and lower extremities were assessed prior to surgery under general anaesthesia. Following baseline measurements, muscle relaxation was performed with rocuronium until the spinal surgeon observed sufficient relaxation for surgical intervention. At this timepoint, NMB was assessed by TOF and MMEP. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was to determine the different effect of rocuronium on muscle relaxation comparing hand and foot TOF with the paraspinal musculature assessed by MMEP. RESULTS Hand TOF was more resistant to NMB and had a shorter recovery time than foot TOF. When comparing MMEPs, muscle relaxation occurred first in the hip abductors, and the paraspinal and deltoid muscles. The most resistant muscle to NMB was the abductor digiti minimi. Direct comparison showed that repetitive MMEPs simultaneously recorded from various muscles at the upper and lower extremities and from paraspinal muscles reflect muscle relaxation similar to TOF testing. CONCLUSION Hand TOF is superior to foot TOF in assessing muscle relaxation during spinal surgery. Hand TOF adequately represents the degree of muscle relaxation not only for the paraspinal muscles but also for all orthopaedic surgical sites where NMB is crucial for good surgical conditions. TRIAL REGISTRATION clinicalTrials.gov (NCT03318718).

BACKGROUND Upper abdominal wall surgical incisions may lead to a severe postoperative pain. Therefore, adequate analgesia is important. Here we investigate whether the low serratus-intercostal interfascial plane block (SIPB) achieves an effective analgesia, considering opioids consumption, pain control and recovery quality in upper abdominal surgeries. METHODS This blinded, randomized controlled study was conducted on 102 patients undergoing open upper abdominal wall surgery under general anesthesia. All patients who received serratus-intercostal plane block at the eighth rib as analgesic technique were included in SIPB group and in control group those who received continuous intravenous morphine analgesia. Pain scores in numeric verbal scale (NVS) and opioids consumption at 0, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours postoperatively were assessed. The quality of the postoperative recovery was evaluated using the QoR-15 questionnaire at 24 hours. RESULTS This study showed lower postoperative opioid consumption at 24 hours (P

Introduction: Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) leads to functional impairment by compression of the spinal cord and nerve roots. In DCM, the dynamics of cerebrospinal fluid pressure (CSFP) and intraspinal pressure (ISP), as well as spinal cord perfusion pressure (SCPP) remain not investigated yet. Recent technical advances have enabled investigation of these parameters in acute spinal cord injury (SCI). We aim to investigate the properties of CSFP/ISP and spinal cord hemodynamics during and after decompressive surgery in DCM.

IntroductionDegenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is a disabling spinal disorder characterised by sensorimotor deficits of upper and lower limbs, neurogenic bladder dysfunction and neuropathic pain. When suspected, cervical MRI helps to reveal spinal cord compression and rules out alternative diagnoses. However, the correlation between radiological findings and symptoms is weak. Cerebrospinal fluid pressure (CSFP) analysis may complement the appreciation of cord compression and be used for intraoperative and postoperative monitorings in patients undergoing surgical decompression.Methods and analysisTwenty patients diagnosed with DCM undergoing surgical decompression will receive standardised lumbar CSFP monitoring immediately before, during and 24 hours after operation. Rest (ie, opening pressure, CSF pulsation) and stimulated (ie, Valsalva, Queckenstedt’s) CSFP—findings in DCM will be compared with 20 controls and results from CSFP monitoring will be related to clinical and neurophysiological findings. Arterial blood pressure will be recorded perioperatively and postoperatively to calculate spinal cord perfusion pressure and spinal vascular reactivity index. Furthermore, measures of CSFP will be compared with markers of spinal cord compression by means of MR imaging.Ethics and disseminationThe study protocol conformed to the latest revision of the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the local Ethics Committee of the University Hospital of Zurich (KEK-ZH number PB-2016-00623). The main publications from this study will cover the CSFP fluid dynamics and pressure analysis preoperative, perioperative and postoperative correlated with imaging, clinical scores and neurophysiology. Other publications will deal with preoperative and postoperative spinal perfusion. Furthermore, we will disseminate an analysis on waveform morphology and the correlation with blood pressure and ECG. Parts of the data will be used for computational modelling of cervical stenosis.Trial registration numberClinicalTrials.gov Registry (NCT02170155).

Bone fractures are associated with considerable morbidity and increased mortality. A major limitation to healing is lack of bone blood flow, which is impaired by physical disruption of intraskeletal and/or periosteal vasculature by the fracture. Thus, pharmacological interventions are needed to improve osseous blood flow, thereby accelerating bone fracture closure. Relaxin is secreted by the ovary and circulates in rodents and humans during pregnancy. Because relaxin might benefit bone fracture healing by stimulating angiogenesis, vasculogenesis (and potentially osteogenesis) through mobilization and activation of bone marrow progenitor cells, and by increasing blood flow via vasodilation, we investigated whether relaxin administration would accelerate closure of a calvarial defect in mice. Whether administered systemically by osmotic pump or locally by collagen scaffolds for ~2 week period after lesioning, relaxin did not accelerate bone healing. Despite implementing relaxin doses that reached plasma concentrations spanning the physiological to supraphysiological range, testing the closure of two different sizes of calvarial lesions, allowing for different intervals of time from instigation of cranial lesion to euthanasia, and investigating mice of different ages, we did not observe a significant benefit of relaxin in bone lesion healing. Nor did we observe stimulation of blood vessel formation in the bone lesion by the hormone. An incidental finding was that relaxin appeared to enhance trabecular bone growth in an uninjured control bone (femur). Although the results of this study were not supportive of a therapeutic benefit for relaxin on calvarial defect closure, future investigation is needed employing different animal species and experimental models of bone fracture.

Study objective Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely used in postoperative pain management. While an increasing number of in vitro and animal studies point toward an inhibitory effect of NSAIDs on bone healing process, the few existing retro- and prospective clinical studies present conflicting data. Design The aim of this qualitative, systematic review was to investigate the impact of perioperative use of NSAIDs in humans on postoperative fracture/spinal fusion healing compared to other used analgesics measured as fracture nonunion with radiological control. Patients/interventions We performed a systematic literature search of the last 38 years using PubMed Embase and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register including retro- and prospective clinical, human trials assessing the effect of NSAIDs on postoperative fracture/spinal fusion healing when used for perioperative pain management with a radiological follow up to assess eventual nonunion. Due to different study designs, drugs, dosages/exposition times and different methods to assess fracture nonunion, these studies were not pooled for a meta-analysis. A descriptive summary of all studies, level of evidence, study quality and study bias assessment using different scores were used. Main results Three prospective randomized controlled studies and thirteen retrospective cohort human studies were identified for a total of 12′895 patients. The overall study quality was low according to Jadad and Oxford Levels of Evidence scores. Conclusions Published results of human trials did not show strong evidence that NDAIDs for pain therapy after fracture osteosynthesis or spinal fusion lead to an increased nonunion rate. Reviewed studies present such conflicting data, that no clinical recommendation can be made regarding the appropriate use of NSAIDs in this context. Considering laboratory data of animal, human tissue research and recommendation of clinical reviews, a short perioperative exposition to NSAIDs is most likely not deleterious. However, randomized, controlled studies are warranted to support or refute this hypothesis.

More stable perioperative hemodynamic conditions, lower costs and a lower perioperative complication rate were reported in young healthy patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery in spinal anesthesia (SA) compared to general anesthesia (GA). However, the benefits of SA in high risk patients (ASA≥II suffering from cardiovascular and/or pulmonary pathologies) undergoing this surgery are unclear. Our objective was to analyze whether SA leads to an improved perioperative hemodynamic stability and to a more cost-effective management compared to GA in high risk patients undergoing this surgery.In a retrospective analysis 146 ASA II-III patients who underwent lumbar spine surgery in SA were compared with 292 ASA I-III patients who were operated in GA between 2000 and 2014. Hemodynamic effects, hospitalization times, complications, and costs according to the Swiss billing system were assessed. The data extraction was conducted according to Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) initiative for cohort studies.The patients in the SA group were older (75years (±9.6) vs 69 (±11.5), p0.001), had a lower BMI (25.8kg/m2 (±4.8) vs 27.2 (±4.7), p=0.003) and showed a higher ASA score (3 vs 2, p0.001). However, SA was associated with significantly better perioperative hemodynamic stability with less need for intraoperative vasopressors (15% vs 57%, p0.001), volume supplementation (1113ml ±458 vs 1589±644, p0.001) and transfusions (0% vs 4%, p0.001). Additionally, the number of hypotension episodes was lower in the SA group (15% vs 47%, p0.001). Furthermore, the SA group showed a significantly shorter duration of surgery (70min (±1.2) vs 91 (±41), p0.001), lower postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) (4% vs 28%, p0.001) and pain in the post anesthesia care unit (PACU) (visual analogue scale (VAS) 2.3 (±1.1) vs 0.8 (±0.8), p0.001), whereas pain after 24h did not differ (VAS 0.9 (±1) vs 0.8 (±1.1), p=ns). The postoperative complication (7% vs 5%, p=0.286) and revision rates (4% vs 5%, p=0.626) were similar in both groups. Total costs (United States Dollars (USD) 6377 (±2332) vs 7018 (±4056), p=0.003) and PACU time were significantly lower in the SA group (35min (±12) vs 109 (±173), p0.001).Lumbar spine surgery in cardiovascular high risk patients with SA is safe, allows good perioperative hemodynamic stability and might lead to lower health care costs. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Background The influence of the muscular response elicited by neurostimulation on the success rate of interscalene block using a catheter (ISC) is unknown. In this investigation, we compared the success rate of ISC placement as indicated by biceps or deltoid, triceps, or both twitches. Methods Three hundred (ASA I-II) patients presenting for elective arthroscopic rotator cuff repair were prospectively randomized to assessment by biceps (Group B) or deltoid, triceps, or both twitches (Group DT). All ISCs were placed with the aid of neurostimulation. The tip of the stimulating needle was placed after disappearance of either biceps or deltoid, triceps, or both twitches at 0.3 mA. The catheter was advanced 2-3 cm past the tip of the needle and the block was performed using 40 ml ropivacaine 0.5%. Successful block was defined as sensory block of the supraclavicular nerve and sensory and motor block involving the axillary, radial, median, and musculocutaneous nerves within 30 min. Results Success rate was 98.6% in Group DT compared with 92.5% in Group B (95% confidence interval 0.01-0.11; P

To characterize in rice rats: (a) periodontitis (PD) progress with feeding of standard laboratory rat chow (STD) during ages 4-80 weeks; and (b) PD progress with feeding of a high sucrose-casein (H-SC) diet during young adulthood.One group (N=12) was euthanized at age 4 weeks (Baseline). Four groups (N=8-16) consumed a STD diet from baseline and were necropsied at ages 22, 30, 52, and 80 weeks. Three groups (N=10-16) consumed an H-SC diet from baseline. Two were necropsied at ages 22 and 30 weeks, respectively. The third switched to the STD diet at age 22 weeks and was necropsied at age 30 weeks. All mandibles/maxillae were assessed by histometry for degree of periodontal inflammation (PD Score), alveolar crest height (ACH, mm), and horizontal alveolar bone height (hABH, mmIn STD diet rats aged ≥30 weeks, all endpoints were worse (P0.05) than at Baseline. In H-SC diet rats aged ≥22 weeks, all endpoints were worse than at Baseline (P0.05). At age 22 weeks, all endpoints were worse in the H-SC group than in the STD group (P0.05). By age 30 weeks, the STD and H-SC groups did not differ.1) STD diet fed rice rats develop moderate/severe PD by age 30 weeks; 2) an H-SC diet accelerates moderate/severe PD development; and 3) switching to a STD diet does not halt/reverse PD that was accelerated by an H-SC diet. These data further clarify use of the rice rat as a PD model.

Short-acting regional anesthetics have already been successfully used for peripheral nerve blocks in an ambulatory surgery setting. However, the impact on direct and indirect perioperative costs comparing 2 different short-acting local anesthetics has not been performed yet.Observational, prospective, case-control, cost-minimization study.Operating room, regional hospitalOne hundred adult American Society of Anesthesiologists status I-III patients scheduled for popliteal block after minor ambulatory foot surgery.Application of 30 mL chloroprocaine 3% or of 30 mL mepivacaine 1.5% for anesthesia.Cost-minimization evaluation. Direct and indirect perioperative costs were calculated. Block success, onset time and block duration, patient satisfaction, and unplanned outpatient visits or readmissions after discharge were also assessed.Onset time (sensory: 4.3 ± 2.4 vs 11.5 ± 3.2 minutes; motor: 7.1 ± 3.7 vs 18.4 ± 4.5 minutes) and block duration (sensory: 105 ± 26 vs 317 ± 46 minutes; motor: 91 ± 25 vs 216 ± 31 minutes) were significantly shorter (P.001) when chloroprocaine 3% was used. This translated to P.001, basically due to a faster discharge home 55 ± 1 vs 175 ± 2 minutes; P.001) in favor of chloroprocaine 3%, without negatively affecting either block efficacy or patients satisfaction. There were no unplanned outpatient visits or readmissions and no complications in the follow-up at 6 weeks.We conclude that the more expensive chloroprocaine 3% for ambulatory foot surgery can reduce total perioperative costs and reduce length of stay in outpatient patients. Moreover, the saved time and personal resources could be used for additional cases, further increasing the revenues of an ambulatory surgical center.

We studied the impact of transcutaneous continuous carbon dioxide tension (PtcCO2) monitoring on ventilation and oxygenation during monitored anaesthesia care (MAC) in patients scheduled for shoulder surgery with continuous interscalene block. 50 patients were randomised either to the intervention (I-group) or the control (C-group) group. In both groups MAC was performed using target controlled infusion of propofol and remifentanil. MAC regimen was adapted to PtcCO2 values in the I-group, whereas the C-group was blinded for these values. Primary outcome was the incidence, degree and duration of hypoventilation stages. In the I-group and the C-group the mean ± SD [range] of PtcCO2 and PaCO2 was 5.79 ± 0.84 [4.37] and 5.44 ± 0.59 [2.78] kPa, as well as 6.41 ± 1.17 [6.29] and 6.01 ± 0.96 [7.15] kPa. Periods of PtcCO2/PaCO2 > 6.5 kPa were 21.0 ± 35.7/1.2 ± 4.2 min in the I-group and 45.6 ± 40.0/18.6 ± 26.8 min in the C-group. Severe hypercapnia (PtcCO2 and/or PaCO2 > 7.5 kPa) was dected in 3/0 patients of the I-group and in 10/3 patients of the C-group. PtcCO2 and PaCO2 showed a strong correlation (r = 0.78), but only moderate agreement with a mean bias (LOA) of −0.37 (−1.69; +0.95) kPa showing an overestimation of the PaCO2. Sensitivity and specificity of PtcCO2 to detect changes of PaCO2 was 0.94 and 0.56, respectively. In no patient SpO2 or SaO2 values lower than 90 % were measured. Despite a moderate agreement between PaCO2 and PtcCO2 the PtcCO2 monitoring significantly reduced incidence, degree and duration of hypercapnia in shoulder surgery patients with MAC.

BACKGROUND: Severe postoperative pain is a major problem after unilateral and bilateral foot surgery. Continuous regional anaesthesia is often used for unilateral surgery. However, for bilateral surgery, the incidence of complications of continuous bilateral compared with unilateral regional anaesthesia is unknown. OBJECTIVES: To assess the incidence of catheter-related complications of bilateral compared with unilateral continuous regional anaesthesia. DESIGN: A prospective observational study.SETTING: Bellinzona Regional Hospital, a tertiary teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Patients (n = 130) scheduled for elective bilateral or unilateral hallux valgus repair treated with continuous popliteal sciatic nerve block using a continuous infusion of ropivacaine 0.15% at 5 ml h for each popliteal catheter by elastomeric pumps. INTERVENTIONS: The incidence of catheter-related complications, effectiveness, pain levels at rest and with motion, patient satisfaction for the first three postoperative days and the incidence of ambulatory visits or readmissions after discharge were measured. A follow-up for neurological or other complications related to regional anaesthesia was performed 6 to 8 weeks after surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The incidence of catheter-related complications comparing bilateral with unilateral continuous sciatic popliteal nerve block. RESULTS: There were no differences in the incidence of catheter-related complications between the groups. Pain scores at rest and with motion were comparable between the groups. All patients were fit for discharge home 3 days after surgery. Patient satisfaction was similar between the groups. There were no unplanned ambulatory visits or readmissions due to complications in either group. No complications related to regional anaesthesia were reported during the follow-up. CONCLUSION: The complication rate, effectiveness and patient satisfaction of bilateral continuous popliteal sciatic nerve block was comparable with unilateral continuous sciatic popliteal nerve block. The follow-up showed that bilateral continuous sciatic popliteal nerve block does not increase the complication rate. However, an outpatient-based study should confirm these data prior to introduction in the ambulatory setting.

Ischemic brain damage has been reported in healthy patients after beach chair position for surgery due to cerebral hypoperfusion. Near-infrared spectroscopy has been described as a non-invasive, continuous method to monitor cerebral oxygen saturation. However, its impact on neurobehavioral outcome comparing different anesthesia regimens has been poorly described.In this prospective, assessor-blinded study, 90 patients undergoing shoulder surgery in beach chair position following general (G-group, n=45) or regional anesthesia (R-group; n=45) were enrolled to assess the prevalence of cerebral desaturation events comparing anesthesia regimens and their impact on neurobehavioral and neurological outcome. Anesthesiologists were blinded to regional cerebral oxygen saturation values. Baseline data assessed the day before surgery included neurological and neurobehavioral tests, which were repeated the day after surgery. The baseline data for regional cerebral oxygen saturation/bispectral index and invasive blood pressure both at heart and auditory meatus levels were taken prior to anesthesia, 5 min after induction of anesthesia, 5 min after beach chair positioning, after skin incision and thereafter all 20 min until discharge.Patients in the R-group showed significantly less cerebral desaturation events (p0.001), drops in regional cerebral oxygen saturation values (p0.001), significantly better neurobehavioral test results the day after surgery (p0.001) and showed a greater hemodynamic stability in the beach chair position compared to patients in the G-group.The incidence of regional cerebral oxygen desaturations seems to influence the neurobehavioral outcome. Regional anesthesia offers more stable cardiovascular conditions for shoulder surgery in beach chair position influencing neurobehavioral test results at 24h.

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo analisar alguns subprodutos agroindustriais utilizados na alimentação animal e identificar os principais minerais presentes. Amostras de farelos de algodão, arroz, canola, soja e trigo; farinhas de peixe, carne e penas + vísceras; cascas de algodão, arroz, laranja; bagaços de tomate e de laranja foram coletadas em diferentes locais de produção. O método analítico empregado foi a análise por ativação com nêutrons seguida de espectrometria gama. Os níveis de minerais encontrados em todas as amostras, inclusive aqueles considerados tóxicos, tais como As, Cd e Hg, não excederam os limites máximos permitidos em dietas para animais domésticos. Os valores obtidos foram comparados com os comumente encontrados em forragens.This study aimed to analyze some agroindustrial by-products used to feed animals in order to identify the presence of the main minerals. Samples of cotton seed meal, rice, canola, soybean and wheat; fish meal, feather meal, meat meal, feather plus viscera meal; rinds of cotton, rice, orange; citrus pulp and tomato residue were collected in different sites of production of the by-products. The method of analysis used was the neutron activation followed by gamma ray spectrometry. The levels of minerals found in all samples were compared with the levels commonly found in forages. The mineral concentration, even those of the toxic elements, as As, Cd and Hg, was at low level and did not exceed the maximum tolerable levels for domestic animals.

Millions of people worldwide are exposed to arsenic in drinking water. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has concluded that ingested arsenic causes lung, bladder, and skin cancer. However, a similar conclusion was not made for kidney cancer because of a lack of research with individual data on exposure and doseresponse. With its unusual geology, high exposures, and good information on past arsenic water concentrations, northern Chile is one of the best places in the world to investigate the carcinogenicity of arsenic. We performed a case-control study in 2007–2010 of 122 kidney cancer cases and 640 population-based controls with individual data on exposure and potential confounders. Cases included 76 renal cell, 24 transitional cell renal pelvis and ureter, and 22 other kidney cancers. For renal pelvis and ureter cancers, the adjusted odds ratios by average arsenic intakes of 1,000 µg/day (median water concentrations of 60, 300, and 860 µg/L) were 1.00, 5.71 (95% confidence interval: 1.65, 19.82), and 11.09 (95% confidence interval: 3.60, 34.16) (Ptrend< 0.001), respectively. Odds ratios were not elevated for renal cell cancer. With these new findings, including evidence of dose-response, we believe there is now sufficient evidence in humans that drinking-water arsenic causes renal pelvis and ureter cancer. arsenic; case-control; Chile; drinking water; kidney cancer

Background The contribution of the saphenous nerve in pain after major ankle surgery is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate its contribution in this context. Methods Fifty patients were included in this prospective, randomized, controlled study. In all patients [Group P (popliteal) and Group F (popliteal+femoral)], a popliteal catheter was placed before operation and ropivacaine 0.5% (30 ml) administered via this catheter; major ankle surgery was then performed under spinal anaesthesia. In Group PF patients, an additional femoral catheter was sited before operation and ropivacaine 0.5% (10 ml) administered. Six hours after spinal anaesthesia (defined as T0), a continuous infusion of ropivacaine 0.3% (14 ml h−1) was started through the popliteal catheter until T24. Then, the concentration was reduced to 0.2% until T48. Patients in Group PF received continuous ropivacaine 0.2% (5 ml h−1) through the femoral catheter from T0 to T48. I.V. morphine patient-controlled analgesia was used as a rescue analgesia. Pain at rest, pain with movement, adverse effects, and i.v. morphine consumption were assessed. Pain at rest and on movement was evaluated 6 months after operation. Results Pain at rest was comparable in the two groups. In Group PF, patients had significantly reduced pain during movement in the postoperative period (P=0.01) and 6 months after operation (P=0.03). Morphine consumption was significantly reduced in Group PF at T0–T24 and T24–T48 (P=0.01). Adverse effects were comparable in both groups. Conclusions The addition of continuous femoral catheter infusion of ropivacaine to a continuous popliteal catheter infusion improved postoperative analgesia during movement after major ankle surgery. This effect was still present 6 months after surgery.

BACKGROUND: Interscalene analgesia is a recognized technique for the management of postoperative pain after major shoulder surgery. The most effective local anesthetic concentration in this setting is still controversial. In this study, we compared the analgesia and side effects of a continuous infusion of ropivacaine 0.2% and 0.3% administered through an interscalene catheter for the first 48 hours after surgery. METHODS: Eighty consecutive patients scheduled for elective open rotator cuff repair were randomized into 2 groups to receive a continuous infusion of either ropivacaine 0.2% or ropivacaine 0.3% for 48 hours at a rate of 14 mL/h through an interscalene catheter after a preoperative bolus of 40 mL ropivacaine 0.5% in all patients. Pain score (visual analog scale 0–100), intensity of motor block, quality of sleep during the first postoperative night, morphine consumption, side effects, and patient satisfaction were assessed by an anesthesiologist masked to treatment group. RESULTS: Total morphine consumption was significantly reduced in group 0.3% (12 vs 30 mg). Quality of sleep was significantly better in group 0.3% (4% vs 27% of awakening during the first postoperative night). Handgrip strength, visual analog scale scores, and side effects were similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: The use of ropivacaine 0.3% through an interscalene catheter for the first 48 hours after open rotator cuff repair provided a significant reduction of morphine consumption and a better sleep quality for the first postoperative night without increasing the intensity of motor block or side effects. (Anesth Analg 2010;111:1543–7) I nterscalene patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) after shoulder surgery was shown to provide better pain relief and a higher degree of patient satisfaction compared with IV PCA with opioids. 1 After major open shoulder surgery, ropivacaine 0.2% was associated with better preservation of strength in the hand and less paresthesia in the fingers than bupivacaine 0.15%, while providing comparable analgesia. 2 The influence of 2 different concentrations of ropivacaine used for perineural interscalene postoperative analgesia after open rotator cuff repair has not been reported. The aim of this study was to compare ropivacaine 0.3% versus ropivacaine 0.2% with regard to the quality of postoperative analgesia. We hypothesized that there would be better postoperative analgesia with similar degree of motor block in the hand and paresthesia in the fingers with ropivacaine 0.3% compared with 0.2%. The primary outcome was postoperative IV morphine consumption 24 hours after the initial ropivacaine administration through the interscalene catheter.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Local anesthetics are not only used as drugs to block the sodium channel to provide analgesia and antiarrhythmic action. The purpose of this review is to highlight the new indications and limitations of this class of drugs. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent research has focused on the use of intravenous local anesthetics to improve bowel function after surgery or trauma, to protect the central nervous system, to find new clues about local anesthetic effects in chronic neuropathic pain, and to investigate the long-term effect of anesthesia/analgesia provided by local anesthetics on cancer recurrence. Recent facts dealing with myotoxicity and chondrotoxicity are presented. SUMMARY: There is growing evidence that local anesthetics have a broad spectrum of indications in addition to analgesia and antiarrhythmic effect. Most of them are still insufficiently known and investigated. These new indications will no doubt be intensively studied in the coming years.

ResumenObjetivosDescribir la presentación clínica, factores de riesgo (FR), etiología y patrones de resistencia bacterianos en pacientes pediátricos hospitalizados con infección del tracto urinario (ITU) de la comunidad. Explorar factores de riesgo en ITU por bacterias resistentes. Evaluar respuesta clínica a la terapia empírica con aminoglucósidos y el protocolo institucional de antibióticos en ITU frente al perfil de sensibilidad de los aislamientos.MétodosEstudio de corte trasversal entre febrero/2009-febrero/2011.Resultadosingresaron 106 pacientes, 47 hombres (44,3%) vs. 59 mujeres (55,6%). El rango de edad más frecuente en ambos sexos fue 1-12 meses (63.2%). La ITU febril se presentó en el 78,7% de los hombres y en el 83,0% de las mujeres. Se encontraron FR en 59,4% de los pacientes y en el 27,3% se presentaron dos o más. Los principales agentes etiológicos fueron: Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis y Klebsiella pneumoniae; dos y 12 aislamientos (13.1%) expresaron β-lactamasas de espectro extendido (βLEE) o de tipo AmpC (presuntivo), respectivamente. En el análisis exploratorio, se observó una frecuencia significativamente superior del antecedente de malformación renal o de la vía urinaria en el grupo de pacientes con ITU causada por bacterias βLEE o AmpC (p=0,0095). La defervescencia como respuesta a la terapia empírica inicial con aminoglucósidos ocurrió en las primeras 36 horas en el 87,4% de los pacientes con ITU febril, independientemente del perfil de resistencia.ConclusionesLa ITU febril fue la principal presentación clínica. Se aislaron bacterias de la comunidad que expresaron βLEE+ o AmpC+. A nivel institucional el uso de aminoglucósidos son una buena alternativa para el tratamiento inicial debido a su alta efectividad clínica y bajo perfil de resistencia.AbstractObjectivesto describe the clinical presentation, risk factors (RF), etiology and bacterial resistance patterns in pediatric patients hospitalized with urinary tract infection from the community. Explore risk factors related with UTI by resistant bacteria. To assess the clinical response to initial empirical therapy with aminoglycosides and the institutional protocol of antibiotics in UTI front to the sensitivity of the isolations.Material and methodscross sectional study from february/2009 to february/2011.Results106 patients were registered, 47 men (44,3%) vs. 59 women (55,6%). The most frequent age in both sexes was 1-12 months (63,2%). The febrile UTI was present in 78,7% of the men vs. 83,0% of the women. RF were found in 59,4% of the patients and 27,3% showed two or more. The main aetiological agents were: Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, and Klebsiella pneumoniae; two and 12 isolations showed expression of extended spectrum beta-lactamases (EEβL) and β-lactamases AmpC type (presumptive), respectively. The exploratory analysis found a significantly higher frequency of antecedent of anatomic abnormalities of the kidney or urinary tract in the group of patients with UTI caused by EEβL o AmpC bacteria (p=0.0095). The last fever peak, as answer to the initial empirical therapy with aminoglycosides, occurred in the first 36 hours in the majority of the patients (87,4%) with febrile UTI, independent of resistance profile.ConclusionsFebrile ITU was the main clinical presentation. EEβL+ or AmpC+ bacteria were isolated from the community. At an institutional level the use of aminoglycosides are a good alternative for the initial treatment due to their high clinical effectiveness and low resistance profile.