Paravertebral versus Pectoralis-II (Interpectoral and Pectoserratus) Nerve Blocks for Postoperative Analgesia after Nonmastectomy Breast Surgery: A Randomized, Controlled, Observer-masked Noninferiority Trial.

Background: Pectoralis-II and paravertebral nerve blocks are both used to treat pain after breast surgery. Most previous studies involving mastectomy identified little difference of significance between the two approaches. Whether this is also accurate for nonmastectomy procedures remains unknown.

A Narrative Review of Ultrasound-Guided and Landmark-based Percutaneous Cryoneurolysis for the Management of Acute and Chronic Pain.

Purpose Of Review: Cryoneurolysis refers to the process of reversibly ablating peripheral nerves with extremely cold temperatures to provide analgesia for weeks to months. With ultrasound-guidance or landmark-based techniques, it is an effective modality for managing both acute and chronic pain. In this review, we summarize the reported literature behind its potential applications and efficacy.

Association of amisulpride and recovery room length of stay among patients with postoperative nausea and vomiting following outpatient surgery.

Study Objective: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common sequela of surgery in patients undergoing general anesthesia. Amisulpride has shown promise in its ability to treat PONV. The objective of this study was to determine if amisulpride is associated with significant changes in PACU efficiency within a fast-paced ambulatory surgery center.

Outcomes Following Distal Nerve Blocks for Open Carpal Tunnel Release: A Single-Institution Retrospective Study.

Background Severe cases of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) are treated with surgical decompression, for which regional nerve blocks are often administered. There is little data about complications associated with these regional techniques for this surgery. The primary objective was to assess the association of ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia nerve blocks in patients undergoing carpal tunnel release with symptom resolution.

Machine Learning Prediction Models to Reduce Length of Stay at Ambulatory Surgery Centers Through Case Resequencing.

The post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) length of stay is an important perioperative efficiency metric. The aim of this study was to develop machine learning models to predict ambulatory surgery patients at risk for prolonged PACU length of stay - using only pre-operatively identified factors - and then to simulate the effectiveness in reducing the need for after-hours PACU staffing. Several machine learning classifier models were built to predict prolonged PACU length of stay (defined as PACU stay ≥ 3 hours) on a training set.

A Point-Based Risk Calculator for Mortality After Hepatectomy.

Background: Preoperative risk stratification for hepatectomy patients can aid clinical decision making. The objective of this retrospective cohort study was to determine postoperative mortality risk factors and develop a score-based risk calculator using a limited number of preoperative predictors to estimate mortality risk in patients undergoing hepatectomy.

Methods: Data were collected from patients that underwent hepatectomy from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program dataset from 2014 to 2020.

Development and benchmarking of machine learning models to classify patients suitable for outpatient lower extremity joint arthroplasty.

Study Objective: Performing hip or knee arthroplasty as an outpatient surgery has been shown to be operationally and financially beneficial for selected patients. By applying machine learning models to predict patients suitable for outpatient arthroplasty, health care systems can better utilize resources efficiently. The goal of this study was to develop predictive models for identifying patients likely to be discharged same-day following hip or knee arthroplasty.

Wearable, noninvasive, pulsed shortwave (radiofrequency) therapy for analgesia and opioid sparing following outpatient surgery: A proof-of-concept case series.

Background: It is often difficult to concurrently provide adequate analgesia while minimizing opioid requirements following ambulatory surgery. Nonthermal, pulsed shortwave (radiofrequency) fields are a noninvasive treatment used as an adjunct analgesic and wound healing therapy. The devices may be placed by nursing staff in less than a minute, are relatively inexpensive and readily available, theoretically provide analgesia for nearly any anatomic location, and have no systemic side effects-patients cannot detect any sensations from the devices-or significant risks.

Obesity and outcomes in patients undergoing upper airway surgery for obstructive sleep apnea.

Objective: Obesity is frequently debated as a factor associated with increased postoperative complications. Specifically, upper airway surgeries for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a common comorbidity among obese patients, may be complicated by obesity's impact on intraoperative ventilation. The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the association of various degrees of obesity with postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing surgery for OSA.

The Association of Primary Anesthesia Type With Postoperative Transfusion in Anemic Patients Undergoing Primary Total Joint Arthroplasty.

Background and objective A high rate of preoperative anemia has been observed in patients undergoing knee and hip arthroplasty. The type of anesthesia that patients receive may play a role in preventing or minimizing adverse outcomes in these patients. In this study, we aimed to examine the complication rates in patients with severe anemia undergoing this surgery.

Machine Learning-Based Models Predicting Outpatient Surgery End Time and Recovery Room Discharge at an Ambulatory Surgery Center.

Background: Days before surgery, add-ons may be scheduled to fill unused surgical block time at an outpatient surgery center. At times, outpatient surgery centers have time limitations for end of block time and discharge from the postanesthesia care unit (PACU). The objective of our study was to develop machine learning models that predicted the following composite outcome: (1) surgery finished by end of operating room block time and (2) patient was discharged by end of recovery room nursing shift.

Basal Infusion versus Automated Boluses and a Delayed Start Timer for "Continuous" Sciatic Nerve Blocks after Ambulatory Foot and Ankle Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: The common technique using a basal infusion for an ambulatory continuous peripheral nerve blocks frequently results in exhaustion of the local anesthetic reservoir before resolution of surgical pain. This study was designed to improve and prolong analgesia by delaying initiation using an integrated timer and delivering a lower hourly volume of local anesthetic as automated boluses. The hypothesis was that compared with a traditional continuous infusion, ropivacaine administered with automated boluses at a lower dose and 5-h delay would (1) provide at least noninferior analgesia (difference in average pain no greater than 1.

Serratus anterior plane versus paravertebral nerve blocks for postoperative analgesia after non-mastectomy breast surgery: a randomized controlled non-inferiority trial.

Background: Paravertebral and serratus plane blocks are both used to treat pain following breast surgery. However, it remains unknown if the newer serratus block provides comparable analgesia to the decades-old paravertebral technique.

Methods: Subjects undergoing unilateral or bilateral non-mastectomy breast surgery were randomized to a single-injection serratus or paravertebral block in a subject-masked fashion (ropivacaine 0.

Regional Anesthesia Abdominal Blocks and Local Infiltration After Cesarean Delivery: Review of Current Evidence.

Purpose Of Review: In this review, we discuss surgical infiltration and various abdominal wall blocks, including transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block and quadratus lumborum blocks, and review the literature on the evidence behind these approaches and analgesia for cesarean delivery (CD).

Recent Findings: Adequate pain management in the parturient following CD is important to facilitate early ambulation and neonatal care while also improving patient satisfaction and decreasing hospital length of stay. Neuraxial opioids have been a mainstay for postoperative analgesia; however, this option may not be available for patients undergoing emergency CD and have contraindications to neuraxial approaches, refusing an epidural or spinal, or with technical difficulties for neuraxial placement.

Percutaneous Peripheral Nerve Stimulation of the Brachial Plexus for Intractable Phantom Pain of the Upper Extremity: A Case Report.

Phantom limb pain is a common condition occurring after amputations. Percutaneous peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) has been reported to provide analgesia for established lower extremity phantom pain. However, this modality has never been applied to upper extremity phantom pain.

Continuous Paravertebral Nerve Block for Scapula Fracture Analgesia: A Case Report.

A 46-year-old man presented with severe refractory posterior shoulder pain due to a left scapular fracture sustained during a motor vehicle collision. Despite multimodal oral and intravenous analgesics, the patient's pain remained difficult to control. A continuous paravertebral nerve block was performed between the second and third thoracic vertebrae resulting in excellent analgesia of the scapular pain.