Brief reports: paravertebral block for anesthesia: a systematic review.

Background: The objective of this review was to assess the safety and efficacy of thoracic and lumbar paravertebral blocks (PVBs) for surgical anesthesia through a systematic review of the peer-reviewed literature. PVBs for surgical anesthesia were compared with general anesthesia (GA) or other regional anesthetic techniques.

Methods: We searched literature databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, and The Cochrane Library up to May 2008.

Bilateral thoracic paravertebral block for abdominoplasty.

Thoracic bilateral paravertebral block is a technique commonly used in the ambulatory setting for numerous plastic surgery procedures. Paravertebral block has not been reported with abdominoplasty surgery. This case series explores this anesthetic technique in the inpatient and day patient setting.

Bilateral ankle blocks: a prospective audit.

Background: There are significant advantages to the practice of bilateral ankle block. However, clinicians are reluctant to employ this technique due to concerns over reliability, local anaesthetic longevity and toxicity, surgical efficiency, and patient comfort.

Methods: Sixty-six patients undergoing bilateral ankle blocks during mid- and forefoot surgery were audited to determine success rate, local anaesthetic safety and efficacy, and patient acceptance.

Acceptability of ankle tourniquet use in midfoot and forefoot surgery: audit of 1000 cases.

Background: While use of a thigh tourniquet with general anesthesia is widely accepted, use of an ankle tourniquet in the awake patient is more controversial. In particular, it is not clear how long patients tolerate this device or what the consequences are of intraoperative tourniquet pain.

Method: A prospective audit was done of 1000 patients undergoing midfoot and forefoot surgery using an ankle block.