Peripheral Nerve Block Catheters Research Articles

Safety Assessment of Prolonged Nerve Catheters in Pediatric Trauma Patients: A Case Series Study.

Nerve block catheters (NBCs) are increasingly used for pain management in pediatric trauma patients. While short-term efficacy has been well established, the long-term safety of NBCs is unknown. Methods/Cases: The retrospective chart review includes a cohort of nine pediatric trauma patients aged 3-15 years who received 52 peripheral nerve block catheters and epidurals for pain management. This study aimed to investigate the potential risks associated with the prolonged use of NBCs in pediatric trauma cases. The NBCs (48 peripheral catheters and 4 epidural catheters) were maintained for about 2 weeks. The number of catheters per patient varied from 1 to 11. The study noted a low frequency of catheter-related complications. No catheter-site infection or local anesthetic toxicity symptoms were reported. These findings suggest that NBCs can be safely maintained for extended periods in pediatric trauma patients without significantly increasing complications. Careful monitoring and adherence to infection control practices remain paramount when implementing extended catheter use.

Effect of interfascial pressure on block success during anterior quadratus lumborum block application: a prospective observational study.

The quadratus lumborum block (QLB) has recently been used frequently for postoperative analgesia after abdominal surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of pressure changes between the middle thoracolumbar fascia layers to which the anterior QLB (aQLB) is applied at the level of the sensory block. A total of 67 patients planned to undergo laparoscopic cholecystectomy were evaluated in the context of this prospective study. Bilateral aQLBs were administered to all patients, and a peripheral nerve block catheter was placed between the psoas and quadratus lumborum muscles. The correlation of interfascial pressures (IFPs) during block application, 30 min intraoperatively, and 30 min postoperatively with the sensory block level was determined as the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcome measures were the sensory block levels 30 min after block application and 30 min postoperatively; visual analog scale scores 30 min and 6, 12, and 24 h postoperatively; and 24 h tramadol consumption. The preoperatively and intraoperatively measured IFPs differed significantly between the right and left sides (P < 0.05). The preoperative and postoperative block levels also differed significantly between the right and left sides (P < 0.05). The preoperative and postoperative block levels and preoperatively measured IFPs showed a weakly negative correlation (right: r = 0.374; left: r = 0.470). The results of this study show that pressure changes between the fasciae may be effective in aQLB application.

Percutaneously Inserted Continuous Peripheral Nerve Block Catheter as a Novel Minimal Invasive Treatment of Abdominal Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment Syndrome (ACNES): A Pilot Study to Assess Efficacy of This Novel Treatment

Percutaneously Inserted Continuous Peripheral Nerve Block Catheter as a Novel Minimal Invasive Treatment of Abdominal Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment Syndrome (ACNES): A Pilot Study to Assess Efficacy of This Novel Treatment

Immediate Effects of a Continuous Peripheral Nerve Block on Postamputation Phantom and Residual Limb Pain: Secondary Outcomes From a Multicenter Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

We recently reported that a 6-day continuous peripheral nerve block reduced established postamputation phantom pain 3 weeks after treatment ended. However, the immediate effects of perineural infusion (secondary outcomes) have yet to be reported. Participants from 5 enrolling academic centers with an upper or lower limb amputation and established phantom pain received a single-injection ropivacaine peripheral nerve block(s) and perineural catheter insertion(s). They were subsequently randomized to receive a 6-day ambulatory perineural infusion of either ropivacaine 0.5% or normal saline in a double-masked fashion. Participants were contacted by telephone 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after the infusion started, with pain measured using the Numeric Rating Scale. Treatment effects were assessed using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test at each time point. Adjusting for 4 time points (days 1, 7, 14, and 21), P < .0125 was deemed statistically significant. Significance at 28 days was reported using methods from the original, previously published article. Pretreatment average phantom and residual pain scores were balanced between the groups. The day after infusion initiation (day 1), average phantom, and residual limb pain intensity was lower in patients receiving local anesthetic (n = 71) versus placebo (n = 73): median [quartiles] of 0 [0-2.5] vs 3.3 [0-5.0], median difference (98.75% confidence interval [CI]) of -1.0 (-3.0 to 0) for phantom pain (P = .001) and 0 [0-0] vs 0 [0-4.3], and median difference 0.0 (-2.0 to 0.0) for residual limb pain (P < .001). Pain's interference with physical and emotional functioning as measured with the interference domain of the Brief Pain Inventory improved during the infusion on day 1 for patients receiving local anesthetic versus placebo: 0 [0-10] vs 10 [0-40], median difference (98.75% CI) of 0.0 (-16.0 to 0.0), P = .002. Following infusion discontinuation (day 6), a few differences were found between the active and placebo treatment groups between days 7 and 21. In general, sample medians for average phantom and residual limb pain scores gradually increased after catheter removal for both treatments, but to a greater degree in the control group until day 28, at which time the differences between the groups returned to statistical significance. This secondary analysis suggests that a continuous peripheral nerve block decreases phantom and residual limb pain during the infusion, although few improvements were again detected until day 28, 3 weeks following catheter removal.

Enhanced Post-Operative Recovery with Continuous Peripheral Nerve Block After Lower Extremity Amputation

Despite progress in perioperative care standards, there has not been a significant risk reduction in morbidity and mortality rates of lower extremity amputations, an intermediate risk surgery performed on high risk patients. The single-shot peripheral nerve block has shown equivocal impact on postoperative course following lower extremity amputation. Hence, we assessed the potential of preemptive use of continuous catheter-based peripheral nerve block in lower extremity amputations for reduction in pulmonary complications, acute post-operative pain scores, and opioid use in post-operative period. A retrospective review of a quality improvement project initiated in 2018 was conducted to compare outcomes amongst general anesthesia in combination with a catheter-based peripheral nerve block (catheter group) and general anesthesia alone in patients receiving lower extremity amputation. The rate of postoperative pulmonary complications was identified as a primary endpoint. The secondary outcomes assessed were acute post-operative pain scores and opioid consumption up to 48 hours. Our analysis was adjusted for potential confounding variables inclusive of demographics, medical comorbidities, type of surgical procedure and smoking status. Ninety-six patients were included in the study (61 in the general anesthesia group, 35 in the catheter group). After adjusting for baseline demographics, comorbidities, surgical technique and smoking status, the odds of postoperative pulmonary complications were significantly lower with catheter-based peripheral nerve block in comparison to general anesthesia alone, OR 0.11 [95% CI, 0.01- 0.88] (P = 0.048). The decrease in acute pain scores was also observed in the catheter group when compared to general anesthesia alone, OR 0.72 [95% CI, 0.56 - 0.93] (P = 0.012). Similarly, the opioid consumption was also lower in the catheter group in comparison to general anesthesia alone, OR 0.97 [95% CI, 0.95 - 0.99] (P = 0.025). Preemptive use of continuous peripheral nerve block in patients undergoing lower extremity amputation reduces the incidence of pulmonary complications, acute postoperative pain scores and narcotic use in post-operative period.

Cryoneurolysis and Peripheral Nerve Stimulation: Comment.

We read the excellent review “Cryoneurolysis and Percutaneous Peripheral Nerve Stimulation to Treat Acute Pain”1 with a particular interest in the potential application of neuromodulation for acute pain management. With the accelerating drive for early mobilization and hospital discharge, there is a need to explore alternative pain management strategies in addition to the traditional loco-regional techniques using chemical means to interrupt nerve conduction. Loco-regional analgesic techniques may often result in undesirable effect of motor weakness hindering mobilization or physiotherapy. The infusion of local anesthetics has additional concerns of sterility of the infused solution and the temporal limitation of the duration of infusion. We concur with the authors that analgesic effects with neuromodulation opens a new avenue in augmenting the quality of analgesia while minimizing the risk of motor blockade. Rather than selecting one modality over another, we proposed that there is a case to be made to integrate both loco-regional analgesia with early neuromodulation, the novel concept of “hybrid regional technique.”By utilizing local anesthesia in the acute phase perioperatively, and transition with concomitant neuromodulation, the hybrid technique of conduction blockade complemented by neuromodulation of unblocked fibers via gate-control theory2,3 may offer patients with the “best of both worlds” and can potentially smoothen the course of acute postoperative pain transition. The concept of multimodal analgesia4,5 has its roots in the idea that different analgesic techniques target different pain pathways or the mechanisms of pain causation. The principle of integrating loco-regional conduction blockade with electrical neuromodulation aligns along the basic tenet of multimodal analgesia in that each modality complements the other.The authors also appropriately highlighted that the cost of currently employed specialized peripheral nerve stimulator systems may discourage its general adoption. Additional procedures in placing these delicate catheters and its paraphernalia may need special expertise or resources and hence may impede its widespread use. Thus, further work is essential to investigate the possibility to safely amalgamate electrical analgesia technique to the traditional continuous regional analgesic block as a single procedure with suitable catheter and its associated equipment. Nevertheless, peripheral nerve block catheters used in regional anesthetic block have been successfully used for neuromodulation trialing6 and may serve as a precedent to integrate the dual modalities in the arena of acute pain management.The authors declare no competing interests.

Perioperative pain management in COVID-19 patients: Considerations and recommendations by the Saudi Anesthesia Society (SAS) and Saudi Society of Pain Medicine (SSPM).

The COVID-19 pandemic has swept across the world over the past few months. Many articles have been published on the safety of anesthetic medications and procedures used in COVID-19 positive patients presenting for surgery. Several other articles covered the chronic pain management aspect during the pandemic. Our review aimed to focus on perioperative pain management for COVID-19 patients. We conducted a literature search for pertinent recent articles that cover considerations and recommendations concerning perioperative pain management in COVID-19 patients. We also searched the literature for the relevant adverse effects of the commonly used medications in the treatment of COVID-19, and their potential drug–drug interactions with the common medications used in perioperative pain management. Professional societies recommend prioritizing regional anesthesia techniques, which have many benefits over other perioperative pain management options. When neuraxial and continuous peripheral nerve block catheters are not an option, patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) should be considered if applicable. Many of the medications used for the treatment of COVID-19 and its symptoms can interfere with the metabolism of medications used in perioperative pain management. We formulated an up-to-date guide for anesthesia providers to help them manage perioperative pain in COVID-19 patients presenting for surgery.

Reversing the Effects of a Peripheral Nerve Block with Normal Saline: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

ObjectiveThe objective of the present study was to determine whether or not the effects of peripheral nerve block can be reversed by flushing normal saline down a peripheral nerve block catheter following the completion of arteriovenous (AV) fistula surgery.MethodsIn the present study, 38 patients undergoing AV fistula surgery were recruited, and a brachial plexus block with a peripheral nerve catheter was established. Following surgery, the patients were randomised to either the control group or the washout group, where 10 mL of normal saline was flushed down the peripheral nerve catheter at 15-minute intervals for 1 h while the patients were in the postoperative recovery room. An observer blinded to the patient group allocation assessed motor and sensory functions in all patients at 15-minute intervals for 1 h, and pain scores were recorded.ResultsThere was no difference in time to resolution of motor or sensory block in the two groups. The median changes in the motor score were 1.5 out of 10 for the control group and 2 for the washout group (p=0.95). The median changes in the sensory score were 3 out of 10 for the control group and 1 for the washout group (p=0.14). There were no differences in pain scores over the study period in either group (p=0.44).ConclusionWe were unable to show any useful improvement in block resolution with normal saline washout of supraclavicular or infraclavicular brachial plexus blocks following AV fistula surgery.

Considerations for Takayasu Arteritis Undergoing General Anesthesia in a Resource-Limited Setting: Case Report and Literature Review

The use of continuous peripheral nerve block catheters (CPNB) is widespread for the control of intraoperative and postoperative pain with the benefits espoused in the literature; CPNB catheters provide effective pain control in the perioperative period which may facilitate earlier discharge, improve postoperative rehabilitation, improve patient satisfaction, and decrease the use of opioids postoperatively6.

Team Approach: Multimodal Perioperative Pain Management in Upper-Extremity Surgery: Combating the Opioid Epidemic.

* Rates of opioid use and abuse continue to rise in the United States, as do opioid-related deaths. Many patients who misuse opioids receive their first exposure in the perioperative setting.* Postoperative opioid use reduction in patients who have undergone an upper-extremity procedure can be difficult secondary to the often-painful nature of orthopaedic procedures. Postoperative pain can prevent timely discharge from hospitals and is a major cause for emergency medicine visits following outpatient upper-extremity surgical procedures.* Utilization of a multidisciplinary, multimodal, home-going continuous peripheral nerve block catheter protocol may be able to comfortably allow patients to recover in an outpatient setting after an upper-extremity surgical procedure, with a diminished opioid requirement.

Six Month Follow-Up of a Patient With a Retained Fascia Iliaca Catheter: A Case Report.

Retained catheters are a rare but known complication of continuous peripheral nerve block. To date there have been several case reports of retained catheters but none that include longer-term follow-up of the patient experience and outcomes. Here, we present the case of a retained fascia iliaca catheter used for analgesia after total hip arthroplasty that fractured during removal and was ultimately never retrieved. The patient initially experienced paresthesias emanating from the site of continuous peripheral nerve block catheter placement, but these issues resolved completely over several weeks. No infectious or serious sequelae were encountered during 6 months of follow-up.

An Unusual Shearing Of the Internal Coil of a Stimulating Peripheral Nerve Block Catheter

An Unusual Shearing Of the Internal Coil of a Stimulating Peripheral Nerve Block Catheter

An Unusual Shearing of the Internal Coil of a Stimulating Peripheral Nerve Block Catheter

An Unusual Shearing of the Internal Coil of a Stimulating Peripheral Nerve Block Catheter

A comparison of strength for two continuous peripheral nerve block catheter dressings.

BackgroundDespite the benefits of continuous peripheral nerve blocks, catheter dislodgment remains a major problem, especially in the ambulatory setting. However, catheter dressing techniques to prevent such dislodgment have not been studied rigorously. We designed this simulation study to test the strength of two commercially available catheter dressings.MethodsUsing a cadaver model, we randomly assigned 20 trials to one of two dressing techniques applied to the lateral thigh: 1) clear adhesive dressing alone, or 2) clear adhesive dressing with an anchoring device. Using a digital luggage scale attached to a loop secured by the dressing, the same investigator applied steadily increasing force with a downward trajectory towards the floor until the dressing was removed or otherwise disrupted.ResultsThe weight, measured (median [10th–90th percentile]) at the time of dressing disruption or removal, was 1.5 kg (1.3–1.8 kg) with no anchoring device versus 4.9 kg (3.7–6.5 kg) when the dressing included an anchoring device (P < 0.001).ConclusionsBased on this simulation study, using an anchoring device may help prevent perineural catheter dislodgement and therefore premature disruption of continuous nerve block analgesia.

Paediatric regional anaesthesia: a current perspective.

Effective analgesia is necessary for optimal recovery after surgery, but children often do not attain adequate postoperative pain control. This review examines the current trends in paediatric regional anaesthesia. Better pain assessment and therapeutic regimens are needed for our patients. Trunk blocks such as paravertebral, transversus abdominis plane, rectus sheath and ilioinguinal/iliohypogastric are becoming a popular means of providing analgesia for thoracic and abdominal procedures. The introduction of ultrasound guidance improves accuracy, efficacy, and safety of regional anaesthesia, and also decreases the amount of local anaesthetic injected. Single injection nerve blocks have a limited duration and the patients can benefit from adding an adjunct to local anaesthetic or placing a catheter. The use of adjuncts is reasonable, but it is difficult to find a medication with both minimal side-effects and the ability to combat pain for extended periods of time. More peripheral nerve block catheters are used in the paediatric inpatient and outpatient settings and recent data support the feasibility and efficacy of ambulatory peripheral nerve catheters. By using a multimodal approach that includes regional anaesthesia, paediatric pain management should aim to reduce patients' pain to an acceptable level without compromising their degree of mobilization. Undoubtedly, peripheral nerve blocks improve analgesia, but future large prospective studies should be conducted to further delineate their effectiveness, duration and safety.

Continuous Versus Single-Injection Peripheral Nerve Blocks: A Prospective Cohort Study Comparing Procedural Time and Estimated Personnel Cost

Background and Objectives: Continuous peripheral nerve blocks (CPNB) provide many additional benefits compared to single-injection peripheral nerve blocks (SPNB). However, the time and costs associated with CPNB provision have not been previously considered. The objective of this study was to compare the time required and estimated personnel costs associated with CPNB and SPNB. Methods: This IRB-exempt observational study involved provision of preoperative regional anesthesia procedures in a “block room” model by a dedicated team during routine clinical care. The primary outcome, the time to perform ultrasound-guided popliteal-sciatic blocks, was recorded prospectively. This time measurement was broken down into individual tasks: time to place monitors, prepare the equipment, scan and identify the target, perform the block, and clean up post-procedure. For peripheral nerve block catheters, time to insert, locate, and secure the catheter was also recorded. Cost estimates for physician time were determined using published national mean hourly wages. Results: Time measurements were recorded for 24 nerve block procedures (12 CPNB and 12 SPNB). The median (IQR; range) total time (seconds) taken to perform blocks was 1132 (1083-1290; 1060-1623) for CPNB versus 505 (409-589; 368-635) for SPNB (Table 1; p&lt;0.001). The median (IQR) cost attributed to physician time during block performance was $35.20 ($33.66-$40.11) and $15.69 ($12.73-$18.32) for CPNB and SPNB, respectively. Conclusion: CPNB requires approximately 10 more minutes per procedure to perform when compared to SPNB. This additional time should be considered along with potential patient benefits and available resources when developing a regional anesthesia and acute pain medicine service.

Local anaesthetic systemic toxicity

Access the CPD MCQs for this issue online here ### Key points Well-placed local anaesthetics (LAs) can yield great clinical benefits. But systemic toxicity related to their use can be devastating. The highly publicized case in 2004 of Mayra Cabrera, a theatre nurse who died shortly after delivery of her baby boy when her epidural infusion of bupivacaine was mistakenly connected to her i.v. line, reminds us to be vigilant and to learn from such rare events. While prevention is clearly the most important element in avoiding morbidity and mortality associated with local anaesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST), such cases still occur despite best practice. Knowing how to manage these uncommon events is vital. In this review, we cover LA toxicity, its incidence, clinical features, risk factors, prevention, and management and examine i.v. lipid emulsion (ILE) therapy in more detail. LAST has been recognized for more than a hundred years, but the precise incidence is currently unknown. In 1928, the American Medical Association reported 40 deaths attributable to LAs.1 Cocaine was responsible for half of these deaths, but procaine was also implicated. These findings prompted the search for less toxic agents. Lidocaine, first synthesized in 1944, was the first amide LA to be used clinically. However, in 1979, the potentially fatal toxicity of amide LAs was highlighted by Albright.2 More recently, studies from 1993 …

Effects of Postoperative Continuous Femoral Nerve Block Analgesia with Braun Continuous Peripheral Nerve Block Catheter Set versus Novel Needle-Over-Cannula after Total Knee Arthroplasty.

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to compare the novel needle-over-cannula vs. the Braun continuous peripheral nerve block catheter set (Contiplex A) in postoperative analgesics after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).Material/MethodsSixty patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty were randomly assigned to Braun continuous peripheral nerve block catheter set group (Braun Group, n=30) or the novel needle-over-cannula group (Cannula Group, n=30). All the patients in the 2 groups received continuous femoral nerve block (CFNB) for postoperative analgesics.ResultsWe found no significant difference in analgesic effect between the 2 groups. The time of catheter or cannula insertion was shorter in the Cannula Group than in the Braun Group. Four (13.32%) out of 30 patients had failed catheter insertions in the Braun Group compared to none in the Cannula Group. Twelve (46%) out of 26 patients in the Braun Group had serious local anesthetic leakage at puncture sites during 12 h compared to none in the Cannula Group.ConclusionsThe novel needle-over-cannula is effective, convenient, and safe in CFNB after TKA.

Serum Free Ropivacaine Concentrations Among Patients Receiving Continuous Peripheral Nerve Block Catheters

Serum Free Ropivacaine Concentrations Among Patients Receiving Continuous Peripheral Nerve Block Catheters

Outpatient analgesia via paravertebral peripheral nerve block catheter and On‐Q pump—a case series

Outpatient pain management after iliac crest bone harvesting can be challenging. We report the use of home L2 paravertebral nerve block catheter (L2PVBC) in a series of five children. The pain scores were low, and analgesic medication consumption was minimal. No complications were reported related with these catheters, and the patients reported very high pain control satisfaction scores. Outpatient L2PVBC can be beneficial as part of a multimodal analgesia strategy in selected pediatric patients.