Use of ropivacaine and lidocaine for axillary plexus blockade.

Objective: The use of certain peripheral nerve blocks in paediatric patients is gaining increasing popularity, although distinctive characteristics of the juvenile anatomy, psychological barriers, time constraints on block placement, and risks of neurotoxic and cardio toxic side effects are still mentioned. However, newer agents like Ropivacaine and Levobupivacaine seem to offer excellent alternatives to Bupivacaine and Lidocaine, especially for use in paediatric patients.

Materials And Methods: We evaluated Ropivacaine 0.

Ultrasound versus landmark-based technique for ilioinguinal-iliohypogastric nerve blockade in children: the implications on plasma levels of ropivacaine.

Background: Ilioinguinal-iliohypogastric nerve blockade (INB) is associated with high plasma concentrations of local anesthetics (LAs) in children. Ultrasonographic guidance enables exact anatomical administration of LA, which may alter plasma levels. Accordingly, we compared plasma levels of ropivacaine after ultrasonographic versus landmark-based INB.

Ilioinguinal/iliohypogastric blocks in children: where do we administer the local anesthetic without direct visualization?

Background: Ultrasonographic observation of peripheral nerve blocks enables direct visualization of the spread of local anesthetic around the targeted nerves. Similarly, ultrasonography may be used to determine the site of local anesthetic placement when landmark-based techniques are used. We performed a study to determine the actual location of local anesthetic when ilioinguinal/iliohypogastric nerve blocks are performed using landmark-based techniques in children in an attempt to explain a failed block.

Epidural catheter placement in neonates: sonoanatomy and feasibility of ultrasonographic guidance in term and preterm neonates.

Background: We report the first prospective sonoanatomic study in neonates with the aim to perform ultrasonographic-guided epidural catheter placement in this age group.

Method: One hundred forty-five neonates with a body weight < or =4 kg (0.53-4 kg) were included in this prospective study.

Postoperative vigilance in patients with total intravenous anaesthesia with ketamine/propofol.

Ketamine is a strong acting analgesic drug, used mainly in trauma and emergency medicine settings, as well as for minor procedures. Its pharmacological properties make it a useful drug for military anaesthesia. Ketamine acts by blocking activation of the spinal and supraspinal NMDA-type glutamate and opioid receptors.