Standardizing nomenclature in regional anesthesia: an ASRA-ESRA Delphi consensus study of upper and lower limb nerve blocks.

Background: Inconsistent nomenclature and anatomical descriptions of regional anesthetic techniques hinder scientific communication and engender confusion; this in turn has implications for research, education and clinical implementation of regional anesthesia. Having produced standardized nomenclature for abdominal wall, paraspinal and chest wall regional anesthetic techniques, we aimed to similarly do so for upper and lower limb peripheral nerve blocks.

Methods: We performed a three-round Delphi international consensus study to generate standardized names and anatomical descriptions of upper and lower limb regional anesthetic techniques.

A Survey of Regional Anesthesia Use in Greece and the Impact of a Structured Regional Anesthesia Course on Regional Techniques Knowledge and Practice.

Background: Due to the growing interest in regional anesthesia (RA) techniques and the realization of the need for formalized education in them, the Greek Chapter of the European Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Therapy (ESRA-Hellas) has established a structured hands-on training course held annually since 2009, which is quite popular in the community of Greek anesthesiologists. The aim of the current survey was twofold: first, to provide an overview of the current practice of RA in Greece; secondly, to evaluate the effect the aforementioned training course has on participants' knowledge and attitude towards RA.

Methods: An electronic questionnaire was uploaded on SurveyMonkey and a link giving access to the questionnaire was forwarded via email to a mailing list of 825 practicing Greek anesthesiologists held in the electronic database of ESRA Hellas.

The impact of inhalation anesthetics on early postoperative cognitive function and recovery characteristics in Down syndrome patients: a randomized, double - blind study.

Background: Down syndrome (DS) is associated with intellectual disability. DS patients may be unable to cooperate and often require general anesthesia even for minor surgeries. Rapid recovery significantly contributes to fast-tracking.

The impact of fascia iliaca compartment block on chronic postsurgical pain in patients undergoing hip fracture repair.

Study Objective: Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP), i.e. pain persisting >3 months, may appear after any type of surgery.

Addition of 100 mg of Tramadol to 40 mL of 0.5% Ropivacaine for Interscalene Brachial Plexus Block Improves Postoperative Analgesia in Patients Undergoing Shoulder Surgeries as Compared to Ropivacaine Alone-A Randomized Controlled Study.

Brachial plexus block is commonly used in shoulder surgery, as it provides satisfactory surgical conditions and adequate postoperative pain control. However, there are contradictory reports regarding the addition of tramadol to the injected regional anesthetic solution. We performed a prospective randomized study to evaluate the effectiveness of tramadol as an adjuvant to ropivacaine during interscalene brachial plexus block and assess its impact on the opioid consumption and the early postoperative pain in patients that underwent shoulder surgery.

General versus local anesthesia for carotid endarterectomy: Special considerations.

Anesthesia for carotid endarterectomy (CEA), general or locoregional, has been an issue of debate in literature ever since the first Cochrane review in 1991. The largest available study on the subject, the GALA trial, has not shown any difference in patient's outcome - incidence of stroke and 30-day-mortality postsurgery. However, increasing evidence favors regional anesthesia as an independent factor of reduced morbidity after CEA.

Local infiltration analgesia combined with a standardized multimodal approach including an adductor canal block in total knee arthroplasty: a prospective randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded clinical trial.

Purpose: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is associated with moderate to severe postoperative pain. This study evaluates the technique of local infiltration analgesia (LIA), by comparing it to saline injections in addition to a standardized multimodal regimen including an adductor canal block.

Methods: Between September 2015 and March 2016, forty patients aged 18 years and older, ASA I-III, undergoing primary unilateral cemented TKA under spinal anesthesia were randomized to receive either LIA (LIA group) or normal saline (sham LIA group).

Aplasia cutis congenita: Two case reports and discussion of the literature.

Background: Aplasia cutis congenita (ACC) is a part of a heterogeneous group of conditions characterized by the congenital absence of epidermis, dermis, and in some cases, subcutaneous tissues or bone usually involving the scalp vertex. There is an estimated incidence of 3 in 10,000 births resulting in a total number of 500 reported cases to date. The lesions may occur on every body surface although localized scalp lesions form the most frequent pattern (70%).

Preoperative fascia iliaca compartment block for positioning patients with hip fractures for central nervous blockade: a randomized trial.

Background And Objectives: Appropriate pain management may positively affect outcome following hip fractures. Positioning patients for spinal anesthesia (SA) can be extremely painful. Peripheral nerve blockades are gaining popularity in this setting.

Multiple sclerosis: basic knowledge and new insights in perioperative management.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating disease of the central nervous system affecting young adults that may lead to significant disability. The clinical course varies among the types of the disease as well as among individuals. Herein we provide a brief review of the recent data concerning the clinical presentation, diagnosis, causes, and pathogenesis of MS as well as medication used, followed by the anesthetic considerations of patients diagnosed with the disease.