Long-term totally implantable venous access port systems--one center experience.

Background: Implantable venous access ports are essential for patients requiring chronic venous access. The aim of this study was to determine securities, risks of complications and patients' satisfaction with using a port system.

Methods: Between April 2008 and May 2013, 220 consecutive patients (mean age: 53 ± 12 years; 155 female) were enrolled into this observational, single-centre study.

[Paravertebral block for open cholecystectomy].

Background: Open cholecystectomy is usually performed under general anaesthesia; the use of regional techniques is limited to those patients in whom general anaesthesia poses a certain risk and should be avoided. Among other techniques, paravertebral block can be used for perioperative analgesia. We evaluated the efficacy of thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) for this purpose.

[Anatomical basis and technique of thoracic paravertebral blockade].

This article presents in illustrations the classical technique of transdermal identification and anatomy of paravertebral space (PVS) comparing to other techniques. This have to be acknowledged by anaesthesiologists as well as by other specialists to perform thoracic paravertebral blockade (TPVB)--earlier elapsed but nowadays getting more popular--safely. In addition the article contains a short description of author's own modification of Eason's and Wyatt's technique.