A Randomized Observer-Blinded Controlled Trial to Compare Pre-Emptive with Postoperative Ultrasound-Guided Mandibular Nerve Block for Postoperative Analgesia in Mandibular Fracture Surgeries

Bilateral ultrasound-guided maxillary and mandibular combined nerves block reduces morphine consumption after double-jaw orthognathic surgery: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Double-jaw surgeries are known to be painful and to require opioids. Maxillary (V2) and mandibular (V3) nerves block could provide adequate pain management with minimal opioid-related side effects. Our main objective was to evaluate the analgesic effect of bilateral ultrasound-guided V2 and V3 combined nerves block in patients undergoing double-jaw orthognathic surgery.

METHODS

In this single-blind, randomized control study, 50 patients were prospectively allocated to either bilateral ultrasound-guided V2 and V3 combined nerves block or intraoral infiltration of local anesthetic. Primary outcome was the cumulative oral morphine equivalent (OME) consumption assessed at postoperative day 1. Secondary outcomes were cumulative OME consumption and pain scores in recovery room and at postoperative day 2, intraoperative anesthetic consumption, and opioid-related side effects. Preoperative anxiety was investigated by the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS).

RESULTS

Compared with infiltration, ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia reduced cumulative OME consumption on day 1 (45.7±37.6 mg vs 25.5±19.8 mg, respectively, mean difference of -20.1 (95% CI -37.4 to -2.9) mg, p=0.023) and day 2 (64.5±60 mg vs 35.8±30.2 mg, respectively, mean difference of -28.7 (95% CI -55.9 to -1.43) mg, p=0.040). Interestingly, worst pain score and cumulative OME consumptions on day 2 were positively correlated with the APAIS (Pearson's correlation coefficient of 0.42 (p=0.003) and 0.39 (p=0.006), respectively).

CONCLUSION

Bilateral ultrasound-guided V2 and V3 combined nerves block reduces postoperative opioid consumption by about 50% in patients undergoing double-jaw surgery.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT05351151.

Overview of Ultrasound in Dentistry for Advancing Research Methodology and Patient Care Quality with Emphasis on Periodontal/Peri-implant Applications

BACKGROUND

Ultrasound is a non-invasive, cross-sectional imaging technique emerging in dentistry. It is an adjunct tool for diagnosing pathologies in the oral cavity that overcomes some limitations of current methodologies, including direct clinical examination, 2D radiographs, and cone beam computerized tomography. Increasing demand for soft tissue imaging has led to continuous improvements on transducer miniaturization and spatial resolution. The aims of this study are (1) to create a comprehensive overview of the current literature of ultrasonic imaging relating to dentistry, and (2) to provide a view onto investigations with immediate, intermediate, and long-term impact in periodontology and implantology.

METHODS

A rapid literature review was performed using two broad searches conducted in the PubMed database, yielding 576 and 757 citations, respectively. A rating was established within a citation software (EndNote) using a 5-star classification. The broad search with 757 citations allowed for high sensitivity whereas the subsequent rating added specificity.

RESULTS

A critical review of the clinical applications of ultrasound in dentistry was provided with a focus on applications in periodontology and implantology. The role of ultrasound as a developing dental diagnostic tool was reviewed. Specific uses such as soft and hard tissue imaging, longitudinal monitoring, as well as anatomic and physiological evaluation were discussed.

CONCLUSIONS

Future efforts should be directed towards the transition of ultrasonography from a research tool to a clinical tool. Moreover, a dedicated effort is needed to introduce ultrasonic imaging to dental education and the dental community to ultimately improve the quality of patient care.

Considerations for Satisfactory Sedation during Dental Implant Surgery

Implant surgery is a lengthy dental procedure, and sedation is often used to reduce discomfort. The effectiveness of sedation has traditionally been evaluated in terms of patient and surgeon satisfaction, but the most important goal is not to induce a deep sleep in the patient, but rather to ensure that the surgery is performed safely and as planned. Additionally, adequate pain control is a necessary requirement for patient and surgeon satisfaction. Most patients undergoing implant surgery are middle-aged or older, and a relatively large number of them have cardiovascular disease. Infiltration anesthesia using articaine or lidocaine in combination with adrenaline is widely used, but its use in patients with cardiovascular disease is limited because of adrenaline's effects on the cardiovascular system. The use of long-acting local anesthetics and the potential efficacy of ultrasound-guided jaw nerve block have been investigated to enhance analgesia without resorting to adrenaline. Midazolam and propofol are usually used for sedation, but dexmedetomidine, which causes less respiratory depression, and the ultrashort-acting benzodiazepine remimazolam are emerging as potential alternatives. Monitoring of anesthetic depth using electroencephalography is effective in maintaining a constant level of sedation. In addition, sedation promotes the stabilization of heart rate and blood pressure, reducing the risks associated with adrenaline and allowing for safer management.

Comparison of Different Carbon Dioxide Insufflation Rates on Hemodynamic Changes in Laparoscopic Surgeries: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Introduction The injury and detrimental effects of carbon dioxide (CO2) insufflation during laparoscopic surgeries may be due to the higher flow rates used during insufflation. The aim of our study was to study the effects of different CO2 insufflation flow rates on hemodynamic parameters in laparoscopic surgeries. The secondary objectives were to compare the patient and surgeon satisfaction scores, postoperative shoulder scores, and surgical site pain scores. Methods This prospective, randomized, double-blinded trial was commenced after institutional ethical committee approval and The Clinical Trials Registry- India (CTRI) registration (CTRI 2021/10/037595). Ninety patients scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomly divided into three groups based on CO2 insufflation flow rate by computer-generated random numbers and the sealed envelope method: Group-A: 5 L/min; Group-B: 10 L/min; and Group-C: 15 L/min. General anesthesia was standardized in all three groups. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate were recorded at different timelines, which included the arrival in the operating room (T0), just before the induction of anesthesia (T1), at the beginning of pneumoperitoneum (T2), 10 minutes (T3), 20 minutes (T4), 30 minutes (T5), and 60 minutes (T6) after the pneumoperitoneum, at the end of the operation (T7), five minutes (T8), and 15 minutes (T9) after arriving at the recovery room. The patient and surgeon satisfaction scores were assessed on a 5-point Likert scale. The visual analog score (VAS) was used to assess the surgical site pain and shoulder pain every four hours for 24 hours. The continuous data were assessed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the categorical data were assessed by the Chi-square test. The sample size was estimated based on a pilot study and using the G Power 3.1.9.2 Program (Universitat Kiel, Germany) calculator. Results There was an increase in the mean arterial pressure (MAP) between the groups 60 min after pneumoperitoneum creation with higher flow rates. The baseline MAP was 85.76± 10.11 in group A, 86.03± 9.79 in group B, and 88.13± 8.46 in group C. At 60 min from the creation of the pneumoperitoneum, the MAP increased significantly from 99.17 ± 9.35 in group A, 102.43 ± 8.24 in group B, to 106.83 ± 8.31 in group C. This was statistically significant with a p-value of 0.004. There was a statistically significant difference in heart rate between the groups 10 minutes after pneumoperitoneum creation. No complications were reported in any of the groups. The postoperative shoulder pain was more severe when higher flows were used at 20 and 24 hours. The surgical site pain was also significantly more for up to 12 hours following surgery with higher flows. Conclusion We conclude that low-flow CO2 insufflation during laparoscopic surgeries is associated with fewer hemodynamic changes, better patient satisfaction scores, and lower postoperative pain scores.

The applications of ultrasound, and ultrasonography in dentistry: a scoping review of the literature

OBJECTIVES

This scoping review aims to summarize the available literature on the clinical applications of ultrasonography and ultrasound in diagnostic, therapeutic, and interventional dental applications.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, Extension for Scoping Reviews checklist and conducted a protocol-driven scoping review of randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, cross-sectional studies, case-control studies, and case series that assessed ultrasonography or ultrasound use as a stand-alone diagnostic, therapeutic, and interventional tool in dentistry. We included studies published after 1980, study samples ≥ 10, with diagnostic, concordance, or therapeutic outcomes. We searched Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, and others (up to April 2021) and extracted information regarding study level, patient level, test or treatment level, and outcome level data.

RESULTS

Five interventional studies (related to oral medicine, temporomandibular disorders, and dental anesthesia), eight therapeutic studies (related to surgery and orthodontics), and seventy-five diagnostic studies (related to orthodontics, surgery, endodontics, oral medicine, temporomandibular disorders, restorative dentistry, and periodontology) were identified and presented in this review.

CONCLUSION

Ultrasonography has a well-established niche in diagnostic dentistry, while therapeutic and interventional ultrasounds have a smaller, yet present, niche in dentistry. However, further research is needed to report the precise estimates of the diagnostic, therapeutic, and interventional effects.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Dentists are mostly unfamiliar with ultrasonography and ultrasound and their potential uses. This review maps the diagnostic and therapeutic applications of ultrasonography and ultrasound technology in dentistry and highlights the current challenges, gaps of knowledge, and research status of ultrasound technology in this regard.

Comparison of Ultrasound-Guided Modified BRILMA Block with Subcostal Transversus Abdominis Plane Block for Postoperative Analgesia in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy - A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background and Aims

Subcostal Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) block is the standard practice for postoperative analgesia following laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of modified BRILMA Block (blocking the BRanches of Intercostal nerves at the Level of Mid-Axillary line) with Subcostal TAP block for pain relief following laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Methods

Sixty cases scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomly divided into two groups: modified BRILMA block (Group B) and Subcostal TAP block (Group T). General anesthesia was standardized for both groups. Blocks were performed with 20 mL of 0.2% Ropivacaine under ultrasound guidance after induction of anesthesia. Patients were administered morphine through patient controlled analgesia (PCA) pump with a bolus dose of 1 mg, 10 min lockout interval, and a basal infusion rate of 0.1 mg/h. The pain was assessed by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores of one to ten. The total morphine consumption, time to first request for rescue analgesia, and VAS scores at rest and with movement, and complications, if any, were recorded.

Results

The morphine consumption in Group B was 5.67 ± 1.98 mg and in Group T was 5.17 ± 1.85 mg, which was found to be statistically insignificant (p-value = 0.317). The time to first request for rescue analgesia was 759.33 ± 80.29 min in Group B which was comparable to 854 ± 93.01 min in Group T and statistically insignificant (p-value = 0.295). The average VAS scores at rest as well as on movement were comparable in both the groups during the entire 24 h postoperative period. No complications were encountered in our study.

Conclusion

Ultrasound-guided modified BRILMA block is equally efficacious as subcostal TAP block in providing postoperative analgesia with similar morphine consumption and no significant difference in VAS scores at rest and movement following laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Trial Registration Number

CTRI/2020/02/023457.