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A Simple Approach to the Sciatic Nerve That Does Not Require Geometric Calculations or Multiple Landmarks

Blockade of the sciatic nerve is necessary for complete analgesia of the lower extremity using peripheral nerve blocks. We identified the sciatic nerve in relation to the ischial tuberosity in fresh cadaver dissections as well as in patients to compare sciatic nerve blockade using the conventional approach versus our experimental approach. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that in patients in the prone position, our novel approach (changing the point of needle insertion to 3 cm lateral from the ischial tuberosity) requires fewer needle passes and less time. Article complet

Neuraxial Blockade in Patients with Preexisting Spinal Stenosis, Lumbar Disk Disease, or Prior Spine Surgery: Efficacy and Neurologic Complications

Patients with spinal canal pathology, including spinal stenosis and lumbar disk disease, are often not considered candidates for neuraxial blockade because of the risk of exacerbating preexisting neurologic deficits or developing new neurologic dysfunction. In contrast, a history of spine surgery is thought to increase the likelihood of difficult or unsuccessful block. In this retrospective study we investigated the risk of neurologic complications and block efficacy in patients with preexisting spinal canal pathology, with or without a history of spine surgery, after neuraxial anesthesia. Article

Randomized comparison of sugammadex and neostigmine for reversal of rocuronium-induced muscle relaxation in morbidly obese undergoing general anaesthesia

Background Complete and fast recovery of neuromuscular function is very important in morbidly obese patients because of the possible influence of postoperative residual curarization (PORC) on respiratory function in the postoperative period. Recent reports underline incidences of the residual influence of neuromuscular blocking agents. Methods Seventy morbidly obese (BMI >40 kg m −2 ) patients requiring general anaesthesia and receiving rocuronium for muscle relaxation were randomly assigned into two groups: at the end of the anaesthetic procedure, one group received sugammadex 2 mg kg −1 of corrected body weight (Group SUG) and the other group received neostigmine 0.05 mg kg −1 of CBW (Group NEO). At the end of surgery and when response reached a train-of-four (TOF) score of 2, patients ...

The C-MAC Videolaryngoscope: First Experiences with a New Device for Videolaryngoscopy-Guided Intubation

Abstract We studied the efficacy of the C-MAC® (Karl Storz, Tuttlingen, Germany), a new portable videolaryngoscope, in 60 patients during routine induction of anesthesia. It was possible to insert the blade (Size 3) of the C-MAC and to get a view of the glottis on the first attempt in all patients. Tracheal intubation also was successful in all 60 patients; 52 patients were intubated on the first attempt, 6 on the second, and 2 on the third. In 8 patients (13%), a gum elastic bougie guide was required. A Cormack-Lehane Class 1 view of the glottis was seen in 30 patients without external manipulation and in 45 with external manipulation, Class 2a view in 22 without and 12 with, Class 2b in 2 without, and Class 3 in 2 without manipulation. The median time taken for tracheal intubation was 16 s (range, 6–58 s). In addition, we describe our experienc...

Perioperative Crystalloid and Colloid Fluid Management in Children: Where Are We and How Did We Get Here?

It has been more than 50 yr since the landmark article in which Holliday and Segar (Pediatrics 1957;19:823–32) proposed the rate and composition of parenteral maintenance fluids for hospitalized children. Much of our practice of fluid administration in the perioperative period is based on this article. The glucose, electrolyte, and intravascular volume requirements of the pediatric surgical patient may be quite different than the original population described, and consequently, use of traditional hypotonic fluids proposed by Holliday and Segar may cause complications, such as hyperglycemia and hyponatremia, in the postoperative surgical patient. There is significant controversy regarding the choice of isotonic versus hypotonic fluids in the postoperative period. We discuss the origins of perioperative fluid management in children, review the curren...