Complications of continuous catheter analgesia for postoperative pain management in a tertiary care hospital. Incidence of technical complications and alternative analgesia methods used.

Background: Continuous invasive analgesia remains the gold-standard method for managing acute post-operative pain after major surgery. However, this procedure is not exempt from complications that may have detrimental effects on the patient and affect the post-operative recovery process. Data of the complications of continuous catheter analgesic techniques (CCATs) and their impact on pain relief are scarce in the literature.

Assessment of the feasibility of high-concentration capsaicin patches in the pain unit of a tertiary hospital for a population of mixed refractory peripheral neuropathic pain syndromes in non-diabetic patients.

Background: High-concentration-capsaicin-patches (Qutenza®) have been put on the market as a treatment for peripheral neuropathic pain. A minimum infrastructure and a determinate skill set for its application are required. Our aim was to assess the feasibility of treatment with high-concentration-capsaicin-patches in clinical practice in a variety of refractory peripheral neuropathic pain syndromes in non-diabetic patients.

[Usefulness of a multidimensional self-administered questionnaire for the clinical management of a pain treatment unit].

Objective: To study the feasibility of a multidimensional self-administered questionnaire before the patient is seen at the first visit in a clinical Pain Treatment Unit (PTU) of a tertiary hospital, and its impact on the management of patients in the first visit.

Patients And Methods: Cross-sectional study. Self-administered questionnaire that gathered: socio-demographic data, medical history of pain, pain perception (intensity and characteristics), comorbidity of pain and patient expectations of analgesic treatment ("What do you expect from our treatment? If we cannot resolve your pain, what level of pain would you be willing to live with?).

Neuropathic pain with features of complex regional syndrome in the upper extremity after herpes zoster.

We report a case of a 73-year-old female who developed unbearable neuropathic pain after a herpes zoster episode. The pain persisted and could not be controlled despite multimodal analgesia. In addition to postherpetic neuralgia, myelitis and complex regional pain syndrome were diagnosed during the evolution of neuropathic pain.

[Comparison of 3 combinations of 0.5% levobupivacaine and 1% mepivacaine in popliteal sciatic block in hallux valgus outpatient surgery].

Background: To compare 3 combinations of 0.5% levobupivacaine (L) and 1% mepivacaine (M) for popliteal block for hallux valgus surgery.

Methods: Prospective, double blind study of 120 patients undergoing unilateral hallux valgus outpatient surgery with posterior popliteal block with ultrasound-guided single injection.

[Ultrasound-guided single dose injection of 0.5% levobupivacaine or 0.5% ropivacaine for a popliteal fossa nerve block in unilateral hallux valgus surgery].

Objective: To compare the perioperative analgesic efficacy of 0.5% levobupivacaine and 0.5% ropivacaine injected in a single dose to block the tibial and peroneal nerves for surgery using a posterior (popliteal fossa) approach.

Physical evaluation of insole materials used to treat the diabetic foot.

Background: The selection of materials for the production of multilayer insoles for diabetic feet is a difficult task owing to the lack of technical information about these materials. Therefore, objective criteria were established for the selection of these materials.

Methods: Mechanical- and comfort-related tests for the mechanical characterization of different materials and their combinations were considered.

Kidney-specific proteins in patients receiving aprotinin at high- and low-dose regimens during coronary artery bypass graft with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Background And Objective: The aim was to determine whether the administration of aprotinin can cause deleterious effects on renal function in cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

Methods: Sixty consecutive patients with normal preoperative renal function undergoing elective coronary artery bypass surgery with CPB using the same anaesthetic; CPB and surgical protocols were randomized into three groups. Patients received placebo (Group 1), low-dose aprotinin (Group 2) or high-dose aprotinin (Group 3).

Pattern of renal dysfunction associated with myocardial revascularization surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass.

Background And Objective: A variable incidence rate of renal dysfunction (3-35%) after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass has been reported. The aim was to define the typical pattern of renal dysfunction that follows coronary surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass using albumin, immunoglobulin (IgG), alpha1-microglobulin and beta-glucosaminidase (beta-NAG) excretion as indicators.

Methods: Twenty patients with preoperative normal renal function, defined by plasma creatinine, creatinine clearance, fractional excretion of sodium and renal excretion of proteins, undergoing elective myocardial revascularization surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass, were prospectively studied.

[Subarachnoid anesthesia in the repair of urinary stress incontinence using a Burch-type colposuspension by means of extraperitoneal laparoscopy].

Unlabelled: Extraperitoneal laparoscopy does not lead to increased intra-abdominal pressure, meaning that the mainly respiratory physiological changes that develop derive from CO2 absorption from the extraperitoneal cavity that is created. Therefore, subarachnoid anesthesia might possibly be appropriate for this type of procedure.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of subarachnoid anesthesia for correcting urinary incontinence by extraperitoneal Burch laparoscopic colposuspension.

Comparative hemodynamic effects of urapidil and labetalol after electroconvulsive therapy.

Urapidil, a postsynaptic alpha 1 -adrenergic antagonist, has been reported to improve intraoperative hemodynamic stability, although it has never been used to prevent the hemodynamic response of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). This study was designed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of urapidil, as an alternative to labetalol, in preventing the hemodynamic response of ECT. Twenty-seven patients undergoing a series of six consecutive ECT treatments were studied.

[Efficacy of topical administration of lidocaine through a Malinckrodt Hi-Lo Jet tube in lessening cough during recovery from general anesthesia].

To achieve tracheal anesthesia during intubation, an endotracheal tube was purposely designed. The tube had multiple laser-induced perforations in its lower portion produced that allowed administration of the local anesthetic in a pulverized form. We evaluated the efficacy of lidocaine 2% in preventing cough during recovery from general anesthesia.

[Chylothorax. An infrequent complication in surgical exeresis of the esophagus].

We report a case of massive bilateral chylothorax occurring after surgical resection of the esophagus in a patient with esophageal neoplasm. The surgical approach consisted of a thoracotomy and a cervicostomy. The relevance of this case is based on the low incidence of chylothorax after esophageal surgery.