Comparison of Combined (Deep and Superficial) and Intermediate Cervical Plexus Block by Use of Ultrasound Guidance for Carotid Endarterectomy

Prospective Observational Study after Eversion Carotid Endarterectomy with Ultrasound-Guided Deep-Intermediate Cervical Plexus Blockade

(1) Introduction: The aim was to describe the anesthetic and surgical technique of eversion carotid endarterectomy performed under intermediate-deep cervical block with sedation, and to analyze the intraoperative and postoperative results. (2) Material and Methods: Thirty cases of unilateral eversion carotid endarterectomy (n = 30), performed between 2019–2020 in a tertiary center under intermediate-deep ultrasound-guided cervical plexus block and sedation, were prospectively observed and analyzed. Hemodynamic (blood pressure, heart rate) and neurological (cerebral oximetry) variables were measured in four intraoperative phases: at the beginning of the operation, prior to carotid clamping, after unclamping and at the end of the operation. We assessed acute postoperative pain in a numerical rating scale at 6, 12 and 24 h, early and 30-day complications, and length of stay. (3) Results: Baseline mean arterial pressure values were 100.4 ± 18 mmHg, pre-clamping 95.8 ± 14 mmHg, post-clamping 94.9 ± 11 mmHg, and at the end of the operation 102.4 ± 16 mmHg. Cerebral oximetry values were 61.7 ± 7/62.7 ± 8, 68.5 ± 9.6/69.1 ± 11.7 and 68.1 ± 10/68.1 ± 10 for the left and right hemispheres at baseline, pre- and post-clamping, respectively. The pain assessment showed a score less than or equal to 3. The incidence of residual nerve block, early complications, and major complications in the first 30 days was 40%, 16.7% and 3.3%, respectively. (4) Conclusions: The combination of intermediate-deep cervical plexus block and low-dose sedation is an effective and safe alternative in awake eversion carotid endarterectomy.

Efficacy of Ultrasound-Guided Intermediate Cervical Plexus Block by Anterior Route for Perioperative Analgesia in Robotic Thyroidectomy by Retroauricular Approach: A Case Series

Retroauricular or facelift approach for robotic thyroidectomy involves a long incision with extensive subcutaneous dissection causing severe pain and discomfort. Multimodal analgesic regimen with inclusion of intermediate cervical plexus block by anterior route provided excellent perioperative analgesia without affecting recurrent laryngeal nerve monitoring in 10 cases. All the patients were monitored with bispectral index (maintained 40-60) and extubated on table. Median numeric pain rating scale score in 24 hours postoperatively was 3. None of the cases had any significant complications on follow-up.

Effects of Ultrasound-Guided Bilateral Cervical Plexus Block Combined with General Anesthesia in Patients Undergoing Total Parathyroidectomy and Partial Gland Autotransplantation Surgery

Background

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of ultrasound-guided bilateral cervical plexus block on general anesthesia, postoperative analgesia, and surgical outcomes in patients undergoing total parathyroidectomy with autotransplantation.

Patients and Methods

Forty-eight ASA III–IV patients with hyperparathyroidism secondary to renal failure were included: 24 patients received ultrasound-guided bilateral superficial and deep cervical plexus block combined with general anesthesia (group A), and 24 patients received general anesthesia alone (group B). Postoperative patient-controlled intravenous analgesia was provided with sufentanil 2 μg/kg. The primary outcome is the postoperative pain scores. Secondary outcomes include intraoperative remifentanil dosage, changes in hemodynamics, extubation time, and sufentanil consumption. Surgical outcomes regarding calcium, phosphorus and parathormone values were also noted.

Results

The patients in group A required less remifentanil than group B (2.56±0.92mg vs 3.38±0.84mg, P=0.002) and lower VAS scores at 1, 3, 10, 24, and 48h postoperatively (P < 0.001). While the systolic blood pressure in group A patients was significantly greater than that in group B at T3 (immediately after extubation, [138.33±11.36 vs 129.08±17.06 mmHg; P=0.032]), heart rates in group A were lower than in group B at 1 min before induction (T1 [89.46 ± 9.14 vs 96.71±14.19, P=0.042]) and 1 min after intubation (T2 [70.08 ± 5.35 vs 79.25 ± 11.81, P=0.002]). The extubation time in group A was shorter than that in group B (P < 0.001). There was no difference in calcium, phosphorus and parathormone values, nor in sufentanil consumption between the groups.

Conclusion

Ultrasound-guided bilateral superficial and deep cervical plexus block combined with general anesthesia for TPTA is an effective strategy to improve anesthesia management and achieve better postoperative analgesia, and has no impact on surgical outcomes.

Peripheral nerve blocks in the cervical region: from anatomy to ultrasound-guided techniques

Cervical plexus nerve blocks have been employed in various head and neck operations. Both adequate anaesthesia and analgesia are attained in clinical practice. Nowadays, ultrasound imaging in regional anaesthesia is driven towards a certain objective that dictates high accuracy and safety during the implementation of peripheral nerve blocks. In the cervical region, ultrasound-guided nerve blocks have routinely been conducted only for the past few years and thus only a small number of publications pervade the current literature. Moreover, the sonoanatomy of the neck, the foundation stone of interventional techniques, is very challenging; multiple muscles and fascial layers compose a complex of compartments in a narrow anatomic region, in which local anaesthetics are injected. Therefore, this review intends to deliver new insights into ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve block techniques in the neck. The sonoanatomy of the cervical region, in addition to the cervical plexus, cervical ganglia, superior and recurrent laryngeal nerve blocks are comprehensively discussed.

Spontaneous breathing anesthesia for cervical tracheal resection and reconstruction

Background

Spontaneous breathing anesthesia (SBA) may have advantages over general anesthesia for cervical tracheal resection and reconstruction (TRR), avoiding the difficulties and complication caused by endotracheal intubation and surgical cross-field intubation. This prospective study evaluates SBA for cervical TRR.

Methods

Date was obtained from 35 patients who had cervical TRR under SBA from May 2015 to March 2019. Intravenous sedation and ultrasound-guided bilateral superficial cervical plexus block (CPB) were applied to maintain effective analgesia and sedation.

Results

Thirty-two patients with tracheal tumors and 3 patients with post-intubation tracheal stenosis underwent TRR. After the airway was opened, 29 patients resumed stable spontaneous breathing, 1 patient needed high-frequency jet ventilation, and 1 patient needed anesthesia conversion for surgical reasons.

Conclusions

Spontaneous breathing anesthesia is feasible for the cervical TRR. It can be an alternative anesthetic technique for certain patients.

Regional anesthesia for vascular surgery: does the anesthetic choice influence outcome?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Outcomes following surgery are of major importance to clinicians, institutions and most importantly patients. This review examines whether regional anesthesia and analgesia influence outcome after vascular surgery.

RECENT FINDINGS

Large database analyses of contemporary practice suggest that utilizing regional anesthesia for both open and endovascular aortic aneurysm repair, lower limb revascularization and carotid endarterectomy reduces morbidity, length of stay and possibly even mortality. Results from such analyses are limited by an inherent risk of bias but are nevertheless important given the number of patients required in randomized trials to detect differences in rare outcomes. There is minimal evidence that regional anesthesia influences longer term outcomes except for arteriovenous fistula surgery where brachial plexus blocks appear to improve 3-month fistula patency.

SUMMARY

Patients undergoing vascular surgery often have multiple comorbidities and it is important to be able to outline both benefits and risks of regional anesthesia techniques. Regional anesthesia in vascular surgery allows avoidance of general anesthesia and does provide short-term benefits beyond superior analgesia. Evidence of long-term benefits is lacking in most procedures. Further work is required on newer patient centered outcomes.

Cervical plexus block

Cervical plexus blocks (CPBs) have been used in various head and neck surgeries to provide adequate anesthesia and/or analgesia; however, the block is performed in a narrow space in the region of the neck that contains many sensitive structures, multiple fascial layers, and complicated innervation. Since the intermediate CPB was introduced in addition to superficial and deep CPBs in 2004, there has been some confusion regarding the nomenclature and definition of CPBs, particularly the intermediate CPB. Additionally, as the role of ultrasound in the head and neck region has expanded, CPBs can be performed more safely and accurately under ultrasound guidance. In this review, the authors will describe the methods, including ultrasound-guided techniques, and clinical applications of conventional deep and superficial CPBs; in addition, the authors will discuss the controversial issues regarding intermediate CPBs, including nomenclature and associated potential adverse effects that may often be neglected, focusing on the anatomy of the cervical fascial layers and cervical plexus. Finally, the authors will attempt to refine the classification of CPB methods based on the target compartments, which can be easily identified under ultrasound guidance, with consideration of the effects of each method of CPB.

Ultrasound-Guided Combined Interscalene-Cervical Plexus Block for Surgical Anesthesia in Clavicular Fractures: A Retrospective Observational Study

Objective

We aim to report our experiences regarding the implementation of the ultrasound-guided combined interscalene-cervical plexus block (CISCB) technique as a sole anesthesia method in clavicular fracture repair surgery.

Materials and Methods

Charts of patients, who underwent clavicular fracture surgery through this technique, were reviewed retrospectively. We used an in-plane ultrasound-guided single-insertion, double-injection combined interscalene-cervical plexus block technique. During the performance of each block, the block areas were visualized by using a linear transducer, and the needles were advanced by using the in-plane technique. Block success and complication rates were evaluated.

Results and Discussion

12 patients underwent clavicular fracture surgery. Surgical regional anesthesia was achieved in 100% of blocks. None of the patients necessitated conversion to general anesthesia during surgery. There were no occurrences of acute complications.

Conclusions

The ultrasound-guided combined interscalene-cervical plexus block was a successful and effective regional anesthesia method in clavicular fracture repair. Prospective comparative studies would report the superiority of the regional technique over general anesthesia.

Anesthetic approaches in carotid body tumor surgery

OBJECTIVE

Carotid body tumors (CBT) are benign tumors that originate from neural non-chromaffin cells that are typically localized near carotid bifurcation. Surgical removal of the tumor is the most appropriate treatment. General anesthesia is preferred anesthetic technique for CBT surgery. Basic elements of anesthetic management are protection of hemodynamic stability and maintaining cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP). The aim of this study was to evaluate anesthetic management of CBT surgery and present the literature knowledge.

METHODS

The study included 10 consecutive patients with diagnosis of CBT who underwent surgery at Antalya Training and Research Hospital, in Antalya, Turkey, between 2013 and 2016. Preoperative demographic details; comorbidities; side of surgical site; duration of operation; length of intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay; change of intraoperative blood pressure; use of inotropic drugs, blood products, and analgesics; postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score; and complications were recorded.

RESULTS

According to Shamblin classification, 3 tumors were type I and the remaining 7 were type II. Tumors were located on right side in 6 patients, and on left in 4. Blood loss sufficient to require transfusion was observed in 1 patient. Average intraoperative blood loss was 287±68 mL. Tachycardia and hypertension were observed in 1 patient; bradycardia and hypotension were seen in 4 patients. Infusion for inotropic support was administered to 1 patient. Mean duration of operation was 109±20 minutes. Mean VAS score was 4±1, mean ICU tramadol consumption was 80±25 mg. Duration of stay in ICU and hospital were 2.4±1.1 hours and 3.8±0.7 days, respectively. Mortality and neurological complications were not seen in postoperative period.

CONCLUSION

CBT surgery requires close and complex anesthesia management. Protection of hemodynamic stability against sudden hemodynamic changes, monitoring, and maintaining CPP are the most important aspects of anesthetic management.