Systemic ropivacaine diminishes pain sensitization processes: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover study in healthy volunteers.

Introduction: Ropivacaine is a local anesthetic widely used for regional anesthesia. One of its advantages is low toxicity at plasma concentrations reached systemically during continuous peripheral or central nervous block. The objective of this study was to test the effect of systemic ropivacaine on pain, hyperalgesia, dynamic allodynia, and flare response.

[Pharmacological treatment of chronic pain].

The pharmacological treatment of chronic pain differs from acute pain management. In chronic non-cancer pain patients pharmacological treatment is only one element of an interdisciplinary approach. Not pain reduction only but gain in physical and social functioning is mandatory for continuation of therapy.

Minimal local anesthetic volume for peripheral nerve block: a new ultrasound-guided, nerve dimension-based method.

Background And Objectives: Nerve blocks using local anesthetics are widely used. High volumes are usually injected, which may predispose patients to associated adverse events. Introduction of ultrasound guidance facilitates the reduction of volume, but the minimal effective volume is unknown.