[Tolerance and efficacy of peripheral nerve blocks for carpal tunnel release].

Introduction: Several peripheral nerve block techniques (PNB) are performed for hand surgery. Their tolerance by patients or their efficacy are poorly described. We evaluated them for blocks at the wrist and at the brachial canal.

Is the musculocutaneous nerve really in the coracobrachialis muscle when performing an axillary block? An ultrasound study.

Background: In reference textbooks describing axillary block, the ulnar, radial, and median nerves are located in a common sheath surrounding the axillary artery. In contrast, the musculocutaneous nerve is described as lying outside this sheath in the coracobrachialis muscle. In a recent case report of ultrasound-guided axillary block, the musculocutaneous nerve was joined to the median nerve outside this muscle.

Elastomeric pump reliability in postoperative regional anesthesia: a survey of 430 consecutive devices.

Background: Postoperative analgesia via continuous perineural infusion of local anesthetics compares favorably with systemic analgesia. Elastomeric pumps increase patient satisfaction compared with electronic models. In in vitro investigations, infusions remained within 15% of their designated set rates.

The reduction of preoperative autologous blood donation for primary total hip or knee arthroplasty: the effect on subsequent transfusion rates.

Unlabelled: We conducted this quality assurance observational study to examine the effects of a change in policy regarding preoperative autologous blood donation (PABD) and indications for perioperative blood transfusion in patients undergoing primary total hip or knee arthroplasty. Two successive time periods, each including 182 successive patients treated by the same medical team and with standardized anesthesia, were compared. The first study had the following standard transfusion policy: 3 U of PABD collected (n = 119) and liberal autologous transfusion (AT).

[Delayed autologous transfusion in prosthetic surgery of the hip and knee].

Blood sparing methods used during hip or knee prosthesis implantation or change in 360 patients during the years 1990-1992 were evaluated. For delayed transfusion of autologous blood the main counter-indication was unstable cardiovascular condition. Such cases being excluded, the method was used in 64.