Ultrasound-guided selective lateral cutaneous nerve of forearm block: A novel technique of pain management during radial artery cannulation

Ultrasound-guided selective peripheral nerve block for the snakebite pain management in the emergency department: Our experience

Envenomation from snakebites (SBs) is a significant public health hazard globally. The venomous SB is associated with moderate-to-severe pain. Weak opioids such as tramadol or acetaminophen are commonly used for pain management but often provide inadequate analgesia. We hereby report our experience of using ultrasound-guided selective superficial peroneal, sural, and saphenous nerve blocks for pain management following SBs in nine patients. The selective peripheral nerve blocks are achieved with a small amount of local anesthesia and without loss of motor functions.

Ultrasound-Guided Superficial Radial Nerve Block in the Emergency Department for Pain Management following Centipede Bite

Centipede bites are reported in many parts of tropical and subtropical countries, such as India. Centipede envenomation produces significant local symptoms, with pain being the most prominent symptom. The emergency department (ED) plays a crucial role in managing the victims through appropriate pain management and control of other local and systemic symptoms. Nonopioids and weak opioids, along with local measures, are often employed, but the intense pain is often refractory to these conventional techniques. Regional anesthesia has numerous benefits over these traditional measures, such as avoidance of polypharmacy and its consequent systemic adverse effects, excellent quality of pain control, and decreased need or avoidance of hospital admission. The applications of regional anesthesia have recently increased tremendously in the ED but are unreported for the management related to centipede bites. We report a case of centipede bite in which conventional analgesics did not help, and the pain was successfully managed by low-volume selective sensory peripheral nerve block.

Ultrasound-guided selective peripheral nerve block compared with the sub-dissociative dose of ketamine for analgesia in patients with extremity injuries

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To compare the analgesic efficacy of ultrasound-guided selective peripheral nerve block (PNB) and sub-dissociative dose ketamine (SDK) for management of acute pain in patients with extremity injuries presenting to the emergency department (ED).

METHODS

This prospective, open-label randomized clinical trial was conducted in the ED of a tertiary care Institute. The patients were provided with either ultrasound-guided selective PNB or SDK. The primary outcome was a reduction in pain in numerical rating scale (NRS) by at least 3 points without rescue analgesia. The secondary outcomes were the need for rescue analgesia, adverse events, and patient satisfaction on either arm.

RESULTS

A total of 111 patients with isolated traumatic extremity injuries were included in the final analysis. The NRS score was significantly lower in the PNB group compared to the SDK group at 30, 60,120, 180-, and 240-min post-intervention [group ∼ time interaction, F (5, 647) = 21.53, p ≤ 0.001]. All the patients in the PNB group exhibited primary outcome (NRS ≥3 reductions) at 30 min post-intervention compared with 36 (65%) in the SDK group [-1.02(-1.422,0.622)]. Rescue analgesia was required in 10 (18%) patients in the SDK group compared to none in the PNB group [0.663(0.277,1.050)]. The decrease in NRS score from baseline at 30 min was significantly higher in PNB groups compared to the SDK group [-2.166(-2.640, -1.692)]. The most common side effect reported in the SDK group was dizziness 35(64%), followed by nausea 15(27%). None of the patients in the PNB group reported any complications. Patient satisfaction was higher in the PNB group than SDK group.

CONCLUSION

The study provides evidence that ultrasound-guided PNB is superior to SDK in terms of its analgesic efficacy in the management of acute pain due to extremity injuries and is associated with higher patient satisfaction. The need for rescue analgesia was significantly less in the PNB group. SDK was associated with a high incidence of dizziness and nausea.

Preventing radial arterial catheter failure in critical care - Factoring updated clinical strategies and techniques

Radial artery catheterization is a frequently performed procedure for critically ill patients. The correct function of arterial catheters is essential to provide accurate and continuous hemodynamic monitoring, facilitating intermittent blood sampling and helping to optimize the workload for critical care nurses and physicians. However, they are not without their own problems. This narrative practice review discusses several clinical aspects that are not frequently considered but may contribute to enhanced catheter functionality, less device-related failure and more acceptable dwell times. Ultrasound has demonstrated unequivocal efficacies and safety with the procedure, improving first attempt success rates with children, the obese or patients with unstable clinical vital signs and shock. Moreover, anatomic variations of the radial artery are not rare, and ultrasound-guided catheterization reduces the incidence of insertion-related complications such as hematoma, posterior wall puncture, intimal dissection, and radial nerve injury. Ultrasound guidance offers several immediate benefits by enhancing the most appropriate insertion techniques, allows for the correct catheter to vessel ratio measurements to be performed and reduces the angle of insertion, which may affect catheter failure due to inappropriate catheter length. A deeper and more proximal cannulation site at least 4 cm from wrist joint, avoiding the area of wrist flexion, reduces mechanical complications related to patient movements and may improve catheter functionality and dwell along with a better area for stabilization and securement.