Locoregional Anesthesia Techniques Research Articles

Use of Caudal Quadratus Lumborum Block with Ropivacaine as Part of an Opioid-Free Analgesic Protocol in Dogs Undergoing Orchiectomy: A Randomized Trial.

In veterinary medicine, the use of loco-regional anesthesia techniques is increasing. The Quadratus Lumborum block (QL) is an interfascial loco-regional technique that involves the release of local anesthetic (LA) between the Quadratus Lumborum and the Small Psoas (Pm) muscle. The study aims to evaluate the effect of the QL block on reducing the total amount of opioids in dogs undergoing pre-scrotal orchiectomy. A group of 36 dogs was enrolled in a randomized blinded study. The animals were divided into two groups: 18 in the experimental group (QL) and 18 in the control group (C). The QL group received 0.4 mL kg-1 of ropivacaine 0.5% for each hemiabdomen (total amount of 3 mg kg-1 of ropivacaine, 1.5 mg kg-1 per side). The C group was brought into the operating room (OR) after receiving the same clipping as the QL group. In the intraoperative period, opioid consumption in the QL group was significantly lower than in the C group. No differences were found in the post-operative phase. No side effects were reported when performing the QL technique. The QL block performed at the level of L6 appears to be a valid approach to reducing opioid use in dogs undergoing orchidectomy with a pre-scrotal surgical approach.

Loco-Regional Anesthesia for Pain Management in Robotic Thoracic Surgery.

Robotic thoracic surgery is a prominent minimally invasive approach for the treatment of various thoracic diseases. While this technique offers numerous benefits including reduced blood loss, shorter hospital stays, and less postoperative pain, effective pain management remains crucial to enhance recovery and minimize complications. This review focuses on the application of various loco-regional anesthesia techniques in robotic thoracic surgery, particularly emphasizing their role in pain management. Techniques such as local infiltration anesthesia (LIA), thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA), paravertebral block (PVB), intercostal nerve block (INB), and erector spinae plane block (ESPB) are explored in detail regarding their methodologies, benefits, and potential limitations. The review also discusses the imperative of integrating these anesthesia methods with robotic surgery to optimize patient outcomes. The findings suggest that while each technique has unique advantages, the choice of anesthesia should be tailored to the patient's clinical status, the complexity of the surgery, and the specific requirements of robotic thoracic procedures. The review concludes that a multimodal analgesia strategy, potentially incorporating several of these techniques, may offer the most effective approach for managing perioperative pain in robotic thoracic surgery. Future directions include refining these techniques through technological advancements like ultrasound guidance and exploring the long-term impacts of loco-regional anesthesia on patient recovery and surgical outcomes in the context of robotic thoracic surgery.

Objective methods of nerve localisation to facilitate performing locoregional anaesthetic techniques for horses undergoing surgical procedures

SummaryPerineural anaesthesia is a useful technique in equine surgery, providing pre‐emptive targeted anaesthesia of the surgical site, reducing volatile anaesthetic requirements, improving recovery quality and providing postoperative pain relief. Surgery under standing sedation in horses has increased in popularity, mandating the need for effective locoregional anaesthesia and analgesic techniques. Nerve location techniques offer greater accuracy than blind techniques when placing injectate. These methods can help to avoid structures such as blood vessels and minimise direct nerve damage during needle placement, reducing the risk of procedure‐related complications. This review will discuss the most pertinent research in the veterinary literature where objective methods of nerve location have been used to perform peripheral nerve blocks in horses. The efficacy of using objective methods to perform nerve blocks in equine anaesthesia is discussed by the authors, providing useful information to equine anaesthetists, and potentially improve the quality of anaesthesia and analgesia in horses.

Influence of anesthetic blockades on recurrence and spread of breast cancer

IntroductionHistorically, pathological and laboratory factors are considered in the prognosis of breast cancer. Tumor resection surgery constitutes the main treatment, but paradoxically, the surgical manipulation and perioperative immunosuppression may predispose to cancer dissemination. Locoregional anesthetic techniques would avoid this immunosuppression, thus improving the oncologic outcomes of surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic influence of locoregional anesthesia on breast cancer dissemination and recurrence after surgery. MethodsA retrospective cohort study was performed on 165 centrolobulillar breast cancer patients, scheduled for non-reconstructive breast oncologic surgery between 2012 and 2015. These patients were treated with conservative surgery under general anesthesia (control group, n = 81) or combined anesthesia with a locoregional block (n = 84). Data were collected on age, tumor type (size, stage, lymph node infiltration), immunohistochemical factors (hormone receptors), procedure (duration, technique), anesthesia (general anesthesia or associated with regional blockade), complications, survival, and recurrence. ResultsStatistical analysis demonstrated no significative differences in age, weight, sex, ASA status, and surgical technique and duration. Tumor recurrence was recorded in 6 patients (4 in the general group and 2 in the locoregional group) 1 year after surgery, and 6 (4 in the general group and 2 in the locoregional group) 5 years after. No significant differences between groups in morbi-mortality were found. ConclusionsFollowing the interfascial analgesic technique, a lower rate of tumor recurrence was observed, but no significant differences.

A Novel Two-Step Ultrasound-Guided Technique for Anesthesia and Postsurgery Analgesia in Gluteal Augmentation Surgery.

In recent years, there has been an increase in demand for gluteal augmentation and reshaping surgeries with intramuscular implants which are becoming increasingly popular. Until now, this surgery was mainly performed under general anesthesia, but recently locoregional anesthesia techniques, such as tumescent local anesthesia, are being applied more and more. Today, the use of ultrasound for locoregional anesthesia and analgesia allows us to perform techniques that are increasingly precise and burdened with lower risks. In this report, we present a novel two-step ultrasound-guided technique combining a botox injection in the gluteus maximus four weeks before surgery and tumescent anesthesia with a cluneal nerveblock.Furthermore, the combination of anesthetic and analgesic techniques can guarantee a better result both in terms of surgical execution of the interventionand in reducing pain and improving patient comfort in the postoperative period.

Development of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols in veterinary medicine through a one-health approach: the role of anesthesia and locoregional techniques.

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) is a new and emerging concept in human medicine that involves rethinking the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative periods. The ultimate, overarching aim is to improve patient outcome following surgery and, thus, return to a normal daily routine as soon as possible. The development and implementation of locoregional anesthetic techniques in humans is one of the key elements driving these protocols. In veterinary medicine, we are no exception: the rapidly growing interest, development, and refinement of these techniques in our veterinary species is changing the way we think of anesthesia and analgesia. The potential real benefits are yet to be determined, as this concept is implemented into our veterinary hospitals in general, and our surgical patients in particular, in a more systematic and routine way. In this article, we will introduce the reader to the concept of ERAS protocols and the role of regional anesthesia in some common surgical procedures.

Opioid‐sparing anaesthesia techniques in dog and cat undergoing bilateral thoracotomy

AbstractMultimodal analgesia is the foundation of opioid‐sparing analgesia protocols in major surgery, being locoregional anaesthesia their keystone. Its aim is to provide adequate analgesia while minimising opioid requirements, and thus opioid‐related adverse effects. The blossoming of ultrasound‐guided fascial plane blocks offers a new spectrum of safer and simpler alternatives to traditional locoregional anaesthesia techniques. This report describes the anaesthetic management of a dog and a cat that underwent bilateral thoracotomy for treatment of chylothorax. The multimodal analgesia protocol consisted of preoperative methadone, ultrasound‐guided serratus plane and erector spinae plane blocks, and epidural catheter for postoperative analgesia management. The combination of these techniques allowed for a reduction of perioperative opioid requirements, good‐quality recovery and opioid‐free analgesia in the postoperative period.

Clinical Assessment of Introducing Locoregional Anaesthesia Techniques as Part as the Intraoperative Analgesia Management for Canine Ovariohysterectomy in a Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

Simple SummaryMany analgesic protocols are described to manage pain during ovariohysterectomy. Over the past few years, loco-regional anaesthesia techniques have been introduced in veterinary anaesthesia. Therefore, students should be aware of these techniques and trained on them. This retrospective study assessed four different methods of providing analgesia for ovariohysterectomy (i.e., epidural analgesia (EPIDURAL), quadratus lumborum block (QLB), transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block, or systemic analgesia (GENERAL). Undergraduate students performed all the loco-regional anaesthesia procedures under the direct supervision of a qualified anaesthetist. Considering the inclusion criteria, 120 dogs were included in this study (22 EPIDURAL, 32 QLB, 39 TAP, 27 GENERAL). Based on our study results, we can conclude that all these four analgesic protocols are suitable for controlling nociception during ovariohysterectomy. All of them required a similar number of analgesic rescues and showed a very low rate of complications. No matter the technique, loco-regional anaesthesia showed better quality of recovery than just systemic analgesia. A significatively lower dose of methadone was used for premedication in the loco-regional anaesthesia groups compared with the systemic analgesia group. Epidural analgesia was the only technique in which the concentration of the volatile agent was lower than in the other groups. No complications related to loco-regional anaesthesia techniques were recorded; therefore, this indicates that it would be safe for students to perform when the procedure is conducted under direct supervision.This study compared four methods to provide intraoperative analgesia during canine ovariohysterectomy in a veterinary teaching hospital. A retrospective study was designed to assess the nociceptive response, cardiorespiratory stability, quality of recovery and complications of four analgesic protocols: epidural analgesia (EPIDURAL group), Quadratus Lumborum block (QLB group), Transversus Abdominis Plane block (TAP group), and just systemic analgesia (GENERAL group). Undergraduate students carried out all the loco-regional techniques under the direct supervision of a qualified anaesthetist. A total of 120 cases met the inclusion criteria and were included in the study and were distributed as follows: 22, 27, 32 and 39 cases with EPIDURAL, GENERAL, QLB and TAP groups, respectively. Data were analysed with statistical software R using different statistical methods. Significant differences among groups were defined as p < 0.05. Based on our results, all the groups needed the same number of rescue analgesia during the intra-operative period. The use of loco-regional techniques anticipated a better quality of recovery compared with the general group. The EPIDURAL group showed a statistically lower expired fraction of sevoflurane. No differences were found regarding complications. In conclusion, these four analgesic methods are suitable and safe to be performed for canine ovariohysterectomy, although loco-regional techniques might have some advantages.

Bloqueio paravertebral lombar em coelho (Oryctolagus cuniculus) submetido à amputação de membro pélvico - relato de caso

ABSTRACT The concern about pain management in exotic mammals is increasing. However, only a few studies describe locoregional anesthesia techniques in rabbits. Thus, this report aims to describe the lumbar paravertebral block, guided by peripheral nerve stimulation, in a rabbit undergoing mid-femoral amputation. We received a one-year-old rabbit weighing 1.27kg with a history of non-union of the right femur and osteomyelitis. The animal came to us for high pelvic limb amputation. After premedication with ketamine, midazolam, and morphine, the patient was maintained under general anesthesia in a non-rebreathing circuit under spontaneous ventilation with isoflurane vaporized in 0.6 oxygen. Using a peripheral nerve stimulator, we performed the lumbar paravertebral block, positioning the needle between the L5 and L6 vertebrae and injecting 0.2mL/kg bupivacaine. The patient remained stable throughout the procedure, without the need for analgesic rescue with opioids during surgery and postoperatively. The discharge occurred after 24 hours. The lumbar paravertebral block proved efficient for trans and postoperative analgesia for high pelvic limbic amputation in rabbits.

Ultrasound-Guided Saphenous Nerve Block in Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus): A Cadaveric Study Comparing Two Injectate Volumes.

Simple SummaryGeneral anesthesia in rabbits is associated with significantly higher mortality than in dogs and cats. In addition, as prey animals, rabbits tend to mask signs of pain, making early detection particularly difficult. Loco-regional anesthesia represents a fundamental component of a multimodal approach to pain management and is an effective strategy to reduce the need for systemic anesthetic and analgesic drugs, thereby limiting their associated side effects. The saphenous nerve is the largest sensory branch of the femoral nerve and provides sensory supply to areas of the hind-limb. Saphenous nerve blockade allows for analgesia of the front and inner parts of the pelvic limb without affecting femoral nerve motor function, thus allowing optimal pain relief but permitting continued mobilization, which may be of particular importance in rabbits as it allows preservation of normal physiological prey behavior (e.g., hiding, kicking). This cadaveric study describes an ultrasound-guided saphenous nerve block technique in rabbits and compares the length of the nerves stained following injection of two different dye volumes. The results show that both volumes consistently stained the saphenous but not the femoral nerve. This technique has the potential to provide hind-limb analgesia while preserving femoral motor function in rabbits.Ultrasound-guided (US-guided) loco-regional anesthesia techniques allow direct visualization and blockade of sensory nerves. The saphenous nerve (SN), a terminal branch of the femoral nerve (FN), is strictly a sensory nerve for which electrical locator devices are ineffective for localization as no effector muscle contractions can be evoked. US-guided SN block in species other than rabbits produces hind-limb analgesia without affecting FN motor function. The aims of this study were to develop a US-guided SN block technique in rabbits and to compare the spread obtained using two different dye volumes. Twelve hind-limbs from six cadavers (1.6 ± 0.1 kg) were included; after randomization, the SN block was performed on the right or left hind-limb, injecting 0.05 mL kg−1 or 0.1 mL kg−1 of tissue dye in lidocaine (1:50 v:v). Subsequent dissections allowed nerve staining measurements. All SNs were identified, and 17.8 ± 4.6% and 31.0 ± 8.9% of the SN length were stained using low-volume and high-volume of the dye, respectively. Regardless of the volume used, the SN was consistently stained while the motor branch of the FN was not. This US-guided technique may provide hind-limb analgesia without affecting FN motor function in rabbits undergoing mid-distal hind-limb surgeries.

Patient and Surgeon Reported Experiences of Locoregional Anesthesia in Hand Surgery

Introduction Locoregional anesthesia techniques have been increasingly adopted for use in hand surgery in recent years. However, locoregional anesthesia techniques may place patients under significant psychological stress, and there has been limited evaluation of acceptance and satisfaction rates of these techniques.Materials and Methods An observational study was conducted in a single tertiary institution. Data were collected from patients undergoing upper limb surgery procedures with locoregional anesthesia. After completion of surgery, a questionnaire adapted from Evaluation du Vecu de l’Anesthesie LocoRegionale (EVAN-LR), with scores from 1 to 5 on the Likert scale, was conducted on the same day to evaluate patient satisfaction. Responses were also obtained from the operating surgeon to assess satisfaction.Results A total of 101 patients were evaluated as part of the study. All EVAN-LR domains received a mean score >4.5. Responses from surgeons also showed good acceptance of locoregional anesthesia techniques with almost all giving scores ≥4 on the Likert scale.Conclusion The results of this study showed good satisfaction and acceptance of locoregional anesthesia among patients for upper limb procedures. This provides reassurance regarding the quality of care with locoregional anesthesia techniques. It remains important to be aware of potential sources of discomfort such as tourniquet pain to minimize discomfort and maximize patient satisfaction.

Continuous Epidural Block and Balanced General Anesthesia in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Surgery in a General Hospital. Case Report

Introduction: Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms (AAA) are becoming more frequent in our population; the surgical management of this pathology represents a highly complex surgery which must be performed in a well-equipped medical unit, with implements and suitable personnel, since morbidity and mortality depends a lot on the preoperative evaluation of these patients with high coronary risk. Peripheral locoregional anesthesia techniques occupy an important place in anesthetic treatment and postoperative resuscitation due to the frequent possibility of cardiovascular, respiratory, renal complications or mesenteric ischemia, which justifies a treatment adapted to the high surgical risk, therefore, postoperative management should generally be in an Intensive Care Unit. Objective: Present the case of a patient with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) with acute abdomen urgently operated in a second-level hospital using mixed anesthesia. Case: Octogenarian patient with a diagnosis of infrarenal AAA, undergoing emergency surgery for abdominal pain, which was under balanced general anesthesia plus epidural block a bifurcated Dacron synthetic graft was interposed, with postoperative management in general surgery hospitalization area because there was no availability in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), evolving properly. Conclusion: Evolution depends a lot on the anesthetic technique, which must be directed towards a multimodal strategy, where hemodynamic stability is a priority.

Role of loco-regional anesthesia for non-intubated video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: A tertiary care hospital in northern Thailand

Background: A few studies have focused on the role of regional anesthesia for non-intubated thoracoscopic surgery (NIVATS) in Thailand. The purpose of the present study was to review the feasibility and safety of loco-regional anesthesia for NIVATS in a tertiary care hospital. Methods: All patients undergoing scheduled NIVATS under loco-regional anesthesia including thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA), intercostal nerve block (ICNB), thoracic paravertebral block, and local wound infiltration from 2018 to 2021 were assessed by a retrospective chart review. Sedation was performed with propofol infusion and bispectral index monitoring. Primary outcomes were the feasibility of surgery and safety related to loco-regional anesthesia techniques. Results: Twenty-three patients were included. The average age was 43 (26-59) years. The two most common regional anesthesia techniques in this study were TEA and ICNB. The most common surgical procedure was wedge resection (13 patients, 56.5%) followed by pleurectomy (5 patients, 21.7%). The overall median technical feasible scores were 3 (2-3). Intraoperative hypotension (62.5% for TEA vs 20% for ICNB) and urinary retention (25% for TEA vs 0 for ICNB) were found. Among four patients with severe cough, three patients received intrathoracic vagal block and one patient required general anesthesia due to severe hypoxemia. Patients with ICNB had a higher degree of incisional pain and a higher amount of postoperative morphine consumption. Conclusion: NIVATS under loco-regional anesthesia could be a feasible and safe technique. A further study is recommended to compare the efficacy and safety of TEA and ICNB for NIVATS.

Laparoscopic-guided distal loco-regional anesthetic infiltration technique in TAPP inguinal hernia repair: a double-blind randomized clinical trial.

Ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block (US-TAP) is an important component of multimodal analgesia in laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair, although it has certain limitations. To overcome them, surgeons have developed several techniques to perform local anesthetic infiltration under laparoscopic guidance, but no trials evaluating these in transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) hernia repair were conducted till the date. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of a novel laparoscopic-guided local anesthetic infiltration technique (LDAI) with US-TAP in postoperative pain control and analgesic consumption for patients undergoing elective TAPP hernia repair. This was a double-blind randomized controlled trial conducted at a single tertiary academic center between 2019 and 2020 on adult patients undergoing elective laparoscopic TAPP inguinal hernia repair. Postoperative pain and analgesic consumption were compared for LDAI vs. US-TAP up to 30 postoperative days. 62 patients were included (31 LDAI, 31 US-TAP). Female gender was significantly higher in the LDAI group (8, 25.81%; US-TAP 0; p = 0.005). Mean anesthetic time (US-TAP group: 142.2min, SD = 17.7; LDAI group: 127.1min, SD = 15.5; p < 0.001) and mean operative time (US-TAP group: 117.2min, SD = 15.9; LDAI group: 103.8min, SD = 15.2; p < 0.001) were significantly shorter in the LDAI group. Pain scores assessed at the first-hour postoperative, at the moment of discharge, and at 8, 24, and 48 postoperative hours showed no significant differences between both groups. No significant difference was found regarding postoperative analgesic rescue administration in the recovery room and analgesic consumption after discharge between groups. LDAI is a safe and effective local anesthetic technique in elective TAPP hernia repair. Pain control is similar to US-TAP block, with shorter anesthesthetic and surgical time and better health resources allocation.

Role of regional anesthesia in Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols.

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols and interventional locoregional anesthesia (LRA) techniques continuously evolve. This review outlines the latest recommendations for the use of regional anesthesia in ERAS protocols and emerging interventional analgesia techniques. Research in ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia has led to a refinement of the traditional techniques and the introduction of a number of new approaches to complement ERAS strategies. The efficacy and versatility of LRA enable its use in an increasing number of ERAS indications. The implementation of ERAS protocols in different surgical procedures reduces overall complications and recovery time. Multimodal analgesia strategies with regional anesthesia techniques are some of the key interventions contributing to the improvement in postoperative outcomes.

The use of IPACK and the continuous adductor canal block in the perioperative management of total knee prosthesis

Background: Although locoregional anesthesia techniques in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) have progressed steadily, the emergence of the adductor canal block representing a step forward for postoperative evolution in preservation of the quadriceps muscle strength, analgesia of the posterior territory of the knee still remains a challenge. The emergence of IPACK, in association with earlier techniques, offers promising preliminary results in terms of its contribution to a favourable evolution and to the satisfaction of TKA patients. Materials and methods: Prospective trial performed on a group of 28 patients undergoing a total knee arthroplasty intervention; analgesia control in the postoperative period was performed either with opioid and nonopioid systemic analgesics, or by associating the continuous adductor canal block with IPACK and systemic analgesics. The primary objective is pain control at rest/on mobilization, while the secondary purpose is analysis of opioid use, their side effects and recovery of joint mobility. Results: There is a significantly better pain control in the group of patients with locoregional anesthesia, both at rest and on mobilization.

Practice of Pediatric Anesthesia in Sub-Saharan Africa: Experience of Two Referral Hospitals in Benin

Introduction: The practice of pediatric anesthesia present particular risks and requires specifically trained staff. We describe here the practice of pediatric anesthesia in two referral hospitals of Cotonou. Method: This was an observational study conducted over a period of 05 months from August 4 to December 31, 2020. All children who had undergone an anesthetic procedure in these reference hospitals of Cotonou during the study period and who met the inclusion criteria were recruited. Data collection was carried out by filling out an individual physical form for each child on whom a surgery was performed. Children who underwent surgery were followed up until their discharge from hospital and called back 30 days later. Results: A total of 345 patients were registered. Among them, 224 (64.9%) were male, for a sex ratio of 1.85. The average age was 55 months±4 months with extremes of one day and 190 months. Medical history was found in 9.56% of cases, and in 80.90% of cases, most interventions were scheduled. Digestive surgery was the most common (30.1%). The ASA1 class was the most represented (73.04%). The practice of pediatric anesthesia was medicalized in 17.39% of cases. All children were monitored. General anaesthesia was the most commonly used anaesthesia technique (89.85%). Loco-regional anaesthesia techniques were less used (27.53%). Spinal anesthesia (11.90%) and caudal anesthesia (11.30%) were the most commonly used local anesthesia techniques. The prevalence of anesthetic incidents and/or accidents during our study was 23.7% with a rate of 29 cardiac arrests per 10,000 anesthetics and an intraoperative mortality rate of 29 per 10,000 anesthetics. Perioperative complications were dominated by respiratory complications (11.57%), followed by cardiovascular complications (8.68%) and neurological complications (6.95%). A total of 84.35% of our patients were referred to an immediate post-interventional monitoring unit. I recorded 13 deaths in the postoperative period, representing a mortality rate of 3.7%. Conclusion: This work shows that the practice of pediatric anesthesia in Benin compared to previous years is becoming more and more satisfactory, even if the anesthetic safety is not yet optimal. It seems imperative to favor the specialization of practitioners, to promote loco-regional anaesthesia and to create pediatric hospitals with adapted resuscitation rooms and operating theaters.

Which regional anesthesia technique is the best for arthroscopic shoulder surgery in terms of postoperative outcomes? A comprehensive literature review.

The literature offers numerous reviews and meta-analyses assessing the different regional anesthesia techniques employed for arthroscopic shoulder surgery (ATS) in terms of diverse outcome parameters. Most have focused on analgesic efficacy in the limited post-operative period as their primary outcome. Indeed, the most up-to-date guidelines are based on the results of comparisons that focus on analgesic efficacy and analgesic drug consumption. However, a correlation has yet to be demonstrated between post-operative analgesia and functional recovery; indeed, the latter has received relatively less research attention concerning the anesthetic technique despite its clinical importance. Here, we aimed to identify the best loco-regional anesthetic technique for ATS, considering all the evaluation parameters considered to date. We performed a comprehensive literature review on ATS, searching for all the relative aspects of the regional anesthesia technique employed and the outcome parameters assessed. From the literature, it is not clear which technique is better than the others. No single technique was revealed as being the absolute best, independent of the outcome parameter considered, which included: post-operative analgesic effect, speed of functional recovery, ease, and safety of execution. The choice of anesthetic technique should be tailored to the patient and type of surgery. When comparing one type of loco-regional anesthesia against another, in addition to analgesic efficacy, a whole plethora of aspects need to be considered (i.e., feasibility, complications, contribution to functional recovery, etc.).

What is the role of locoregional anesthesia in breast surgery? A systematic literature review focused on pain intensity, opioid consumption, adverse events, and patient satisfaction

BackgroundBreast surgery in the United States is common. Pain affects up to 50% of women undergoing breast surgery and can interfere with postoperative outcomes. General anesthesia is the conventional, most frequently used anaesthetic technique. Various locoregional anesthetic techniques are also used for breast surgeries. A systematic review of the use of locoregional anesthesia for postoperative pain in breast surgery is needed to clarify its role in pain management.ObjectivesTo systematically review literature to establish the efficacy and the safety of locoregional anesthesia used in the treatment of pain after breast surgery.MethodsEmbase, MEDLINE, Google Scholar and Cochrane Central Trials Register were systematically searched in Mars 2020 for studies examining locoregional anesthesia for management of pain in adults after breast surgery. The methodological quality of the studies and their results were appraised using the Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) checklist and specific measurement properties criteria, respectively.ResultsNineteen studies evaluating locoregional anesthesia were included: 1058 patients underwent lumpectomy/mastectomy, 142 breast augmentation and 79 breast reduction. Locoregional anesthesia provides effective anesthesia and analgesia in the perioperative setting, however no statistically significant difference emerged if compared to other techniques. For mastectomy only, the use of locoregional techniques reduces pain in the first hour after the end of the surgery if compared to other procedures (p = 0.02). Other potentially beneficial effects of locoregional anesthesia include decreased need for opioids, decreased postoperative nausea and vomiting, fewer complications and increased patient satisfaction. All this improves postoperative recovery and shortens hospitalization stay. In none of these cases, locoregional anesthesia was statistically superior to other techniques.ConclusionThe results of our review showed no differences between locoregional anesthesia and other techniques in the management of breast surgery. Locoregional techniques are superior in reducing pain in the first hour after mastectomy.

A possible future for anaesthesia in breast surgery: thoracic paravertebral block and awake surgery. A prospective observational study.

Quadrantectomy is a surgical procedure traditionally performed under general anaesthesia with intraoperative and postoperative opioid-based analgesia. The use of locoregional anaesthesia techniques in breast surgery has become widespread and allows excellent management of intraoperative and postoperative pain with reduced opioid consumption. We chose thoracic paravertebral block as regional anaesthesia technique in breast surgery to investigate the possibility of carrying out this surgery with the patient awake. A prospective observational study on 50 patients was designed. The primary outcome for this study was the possibility to carry out the surgery with only the paravertebral block associated with mild sedation without general anaesthesia. Forty minutes before the start of the surgery, an ultrasound-guided thoracic paravertebral block was performed at two thoracic levels, and for each level, 7 mL of ropivacaine 0.7% was injected. Sedation was obtained with target-controlled infusion of propofol. Forty-nine patients underwent the operation awake; in one case, we had to place an I-gel and perform general anaesthesia. No patient needed intraoperative or postoperative opioids. The numeric rating scale, recorded at 0, 2, 6, 12, 24, and 36 hours, was greater than 3 in only five patients. We believe that if in the future we try to make quadrantectomy an intervention in which the anaesthesia is exclusively regional, therefore with a patient awake and collaborating, it will not be possible to ignore the use of thoracic paravertebral block.