PURPOSE OF REVIEW To consider optimal analgesic strategies for thoracic surgical patients. RECENT FINDINGS Recent studies have consistently suggested analgesic equivalence between paravertebral and thoracic epidural analgesia. Complications appear to be significantly less common with paravertebral analgesia. SUMMARY There is good evidence that paravertebral block can provide acceptable pain...

BACKGROUND Cervical sympathetic blockade has been found to reduce cerebral vascular resistance and improve focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the sympathetic blockade of high thoracic epidural anesthesia (HTEA) would reduce hippocampal apoptosis after global cerebral ischemia (GCI) injury. METHODS Fifteen-minute global ischemia was establi...

Abstract Purpose of Review This article describes the anatomy spine, relevant ultrasonographic views, and techniques used to perform neuraxial blocks using ultrasound imaging. Finally, we review available evidence for use imaging blocks. Recent Findings Central blockade traditional landmark palpation is a reliable technique provide surgical anesthesia postoperative analgesia. However, factors l...

INTRODUCTION Liver dysfunction is a common feature of severe sepsis and is associated with a poor outcome. Both liver perfusion and hepatic inflammatory response in sepsis might be affected by sympathetic nerve activity. However, the effects of thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA), which is associated with regional sympathetic block, on septic liver injury are unknown. Therefore, we investigated ...

There are no reports regarding pneumomediastinum caused by thoracic epidural block complications. We believe that it is possible to experience an occurrence of pneumomediastinum caused by air in the epidural space after performing a thoracic epidural block using the loss of resistance (LOR) technique with air. We report a witnessed case where pneumomediastinum appeared after a thoracic epidural...

BACKGROUND Thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA) is frequently used to maintain intraoperative analgesia. After injecting the initial bolus dose of epidural local anesthetics (LA), intermittent injection of LA through an epidural catheter is required to maintain the intraoperative analgesia. For intermittent epidural administration, usually 2 - 5 mL of LA has been used. However, no studies have su...

BACKGROUND: The potential benefits of anaesthesia techniques in the parameters cellular immunity and prevention metastasis various types cancer are attracting increasing attention.
 OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to estimate influence epidural blockade as a component anesthesia support on indexes patients operated for gastric cancer.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS: 89 cancer, divided into two groups ...

BACKGROUND Various factors influencing the distribution of sensory blockade in epidural anesthesia have been identified; however, reports on the effects of gravity and different postures in thoracic epidural anesthesia have been rare. Medications may be injected with the lateral decubitus or the neutral position; however, it is unclear whether the distribution range of medication is similar or ...