The interscalene brachial plexus block is not commonly used in pediatric regional anesthesia. The increasing popularity of ultrasound has allowed more anesthesiologists to perform regional anesthesia with high success rates in pediatric patients with the direct visualization of the target nerve and spread of local anesthetics. We present a case of interscalene brachial plexus block under ultras...

Muscarinic receptor subtypes in the airways appear to subserve different physiological functions. M1-receptors facilitate neurotransmission through parasympathetic ganglia and enhance cholinergic reflexes, but are also localized to alveolar walls. M2-receptors act as autoreceptors on post-ganglionic cholinergic nerves and inhibit acetylcholine release. There is some evidence that they may be de...

OBJECTIVE To successfully treat a patient with complex regional pain syndrome, refractory to standard therapy, to enable a rapid and full return to professional duties. SETTING This case report describes the rapid resolution of an unusual presentation of complex regional pain syndrome type I after four days of treatment with a continuous sciatic peripheral nerve block and a concomitant parent...

Regional anaesthesia has multiple known benefits over general anaesthesia alone, but requires time and expertise for its application. This study aimed to decrease anaesthetic time and increase total surgical operative time by instituting a 'block room' where regional anaesthesia nerve blocks could be provided by expert anaesthetists in regular scheduled sessions. A baseline audit showed that 2 ...

  Introduction: Hemodialysis through creation of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is an established surgical procedure for patients with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). Anesthetic methods management for this surgery should deal with different risk factors such as hypertension, ischemic heart disease and diabetes. Intravenous Regional Anesthesia (IVRA) or Bier block anesthesia as an option for AVF...

Asthma is an inflammatory disorder of the airways associated with increased airway responsiveness and airway remodeling. Several genome wide association studies (GWAS) and non-GWAS studies have demonstrated a strong genetic linkage of chromosome 17q21 genes with asthma in populations of diverse ethnic backgrounds. In particular, SNPs in the 17q21 region are found within a large linkage disequil...

PURPOSE This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of interscalene regional blocks and infusion pumps for postoperative pain control after arthroscopic subacromial decompression with or without arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. METHODS Seventy-six patients were included in the prospective study. Participants were randomized into 4 treatment groups: (1) interscalene regional block, (2) ...

BACKGROUND Intact pharyngeal function and coordination of breathing and swallowing are essential for airway protection and to avoid respiratory complications. Postoperative pulmonary complications caused by residual effects of neuromuscular-blocking agents occur more frequently in the elderly. Moreover, elderly have altered pharyngeal function which is associated with increased risk of aspirati...

Airway anesthesia is pivotal for successful awake intubation provided either topically or by blocks. Airway blocks are considered technically more difficult to perform and carry a higher risk of complications. However, in experienced hands, they can be useful as they provide excellent intubating conditions. For complete upper airway anesthesia, bilateral glossopharyngeal and superior laryngeal ...

Inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract are characterized by flow of plasma filtrate across the epithelium into the airway lumen ("transudation"). Elsewhere, we have proposed that extravasation from microvessels causes edema, and this is associated with elevated subepithelial hydrostatic pressure that drives transudation. To test this hypothesis, we have attempted to block transuda...