Effective low dosage of mepivacaine in ultrasound-guided axillary nerve block: a double-blinded, randomized clinical trial of efficacy in patients undergoing distal upper extremity surgery.

Study Objective: To evaluate two low-dose volumes (20 mL or 30 mL) of 1.5% mepivacaine solution used for ultrasound-guided axillary blockade for outpatients undergoing distal upper limb surgery.

Design: Prospective, double-blinded randomized study.

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor gene expression is altered in burn patients.

Introduction: Burn patients have been observed to be more susceptible to the hyperkalemic effect of the depolarizing muscle relaxant succinylcholine. Changes in nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunit composition may alter electrophysiologic, pharmacologic, and metabolic characteristics of the receptor inducing hyperkalemia on exposure to succinylcholine. No studies have been performed that show the upregulation and/or alteration of nAChR subunit composition in human burn patients.