Dexamethasone effectively reduces postoperative nausea and vomiting in a general surgical adult patient population.

Background: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is still a common and major complication for surgical patients, which may delay post-anesthetic care unit discharge, prolong hospital stay and thus increase the cost of hospitalization. It is understood that PONV is a multi-factorial outcome and occurs more often with general anesthesia than with other anesthetic methods. Prophylactic administration of antihistamines, antidopaminergics, anticholinergics, phenothiazines, serotonin antagonist, steroids and even acupuncture has been shown to be effective.

The effects of continuous axillary brachial plexus block with ropivacaine infusion on skin temperature and survival of crushed fingers after microsurgical replantation.

Background: Continuous axillary brachial plexus block with local anesthetic has been shown to improve tissue perfusion after replantation surgery of the extremity. The present study aimed to investigate whether continuous axillary brachial plexus block with ropivacaine infusion can improve the survival of the reconstructive fingers secondary to an increase in its skin temperature in patients receiving replantation surgery of the crushed fingers.

Methods: Under general anesthesia, 18 patients received replantation or toe-to-hand transplantation of their crushed digits.