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Results for “Cervical Plexus Block”

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At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

[Role of surgical splanchnicectomy in the treatment of pancreatic carcinoma].

Palliative surgical procedures offer considerable benefit for the patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer: surgical splanchnicectomy performed in conjunction with biliary-enteric by-pass offers good results as regard pain relief without increased morbidity and mortality. We treated 25 patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer by mean of biliary-enteric by-pass plus bilateral splanchnicectomy performed through different surgical approaches. In this series of patients postoperative mortality was nil, mean survival time was 7.2 months (range 3-14 months). Preoperatively, we assessed all patients as affected by visceral pain: Scott-Huskisson 10 mark-scale value in quantitative assessment of pain was equal or above the 7th mark in 87.5% of patients. One month later in the postoperative follow-up, 96% of the patients had a significant reduction in pain intensity from a preoperative median of 7 mark to a postoperative median of 1.5 mark (p = 0.0001). The mean period free of pain recurrence was 4.8 months. However, after 6 months only 46% of survivors were pain-free with such rate decreasing further to a 10% of survivors after 8 months. Nevertheless, the patients had around 70% of their survival span free of pain. We strongly believe that failure in relief of pain is due to a mistake in preoperative evaluation of the type of pain (somatic and not visceral, or both) and to the onset of somatic pain in the course of the disease rather than to surgical technical errors. Recurrence of pain has been considered inevitable in the biological progression of unresected cancer, and would be treated by combination of therapies, such as non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, transaortic coeliac plexus block, narcotics and cervical cordotomy.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed2006

Identification of greater occipital nerve landmarks for the treatment of occipital neuralgia.

Important structures involved in the pathogenesis of occipital headache include the aponeurotic attachments of the trapezius and semispinalis capitis muscles to the occipital bone. The greater occipital nerve (GON) can become entrapped as it passes through these aponeuroses, causing symptoms of occipital neuralgia. The aim of this study was to identify topographic landmarks for accurate identification of GON, which might facilitate its anaesthetic blockade. The course and distribution of GON and its relation to the aponeuroses of the trapezius and semispinalis capitis were examined in 100 formalin-fixed adult cadavers. In addition, the relative position of the nerve on a horizontal line between the external occipital protuberance and the mastoid process, as well as between the mastoid processes was measured. The greater occipital nerve was found bilaterally in all specimens. It was located at a mean distance of 3.8 cm (range 1.5-7.5 cm) lateral to a vertical line through the external occipital protuberance and the spinous processes of the cervical vertebrae 2-7. It was also located approximately 41% of the distance along the intermastoid line (medial to a mastoid process) and 22% of the distance between the external occipital protuberance and the mastoid process. The location of GON for anaesthesia or any other neurosurgical procedure has been established as one thumb's breadth lateral to the external occipital protuberance (2 cm laterally) and approximately at the base of the thumb nail (2 cm inferior). This is the first study proposing the use of landmarks in relation to anthropometric measurements. On the basis of these observations we propose a target zone for local anaesthetic injection that is based on easily identifiable landmarks and suggest that injection at this target point could be of benefit in the relief of occipital neuralgia.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

[Analgesia after surgery of the shoulder].

Postoperative pain after shoulder surgery is known to be intense and requires usually opioid administration. The recent use of regional anaesthesia for this type of surgery has contributed to the relief of acute postoperative pain occurring in the recovery room since the analgesic effects of block persist for several hours after surgery depending upon the selected drug. Moreover, the development of less invasive surgery (arthroscopy) and experience with regional blocks have permitted to perform minor shoulder surgery on an outpatient basis. For minor surgery, regional anaesthesia associated to a light sedation is sufficient. However, for more invasive surgery, regional anaesthesia should be associated to a light general anaesthesia as well as the insertion of a supraclavicular catheter for postoperative analgesia. A diaphragmatic paresis secondary to a blockade of the phrenic nerve is constant radiologically after interscalenic block but remains symptomless. However, in case of severe preoperative chronic respiratory insufficiency, decompensation may occur rapidly after performance of the interscalenic block.

Ambulatory Surgical Procedures↗
PubMed2003

Supraclavicular approach to brachial plexus block using fluoroscopic anatomic landmarks and nerve stimulation.

Irritation of neural structures, specifically the brachial plexus outside of the cervical spine is capable of producing pain in the upper extremity. These pain patterns may be similar to pain originating from the cervical spine, presenting a diagnostic challenge. Brachial plexus block is performed at multiple levels, including interscalene, supraclavicular, infraclavicular, and axillary. Interscalene block is frequently utilized by interventional pain management physicians for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes to isolate and manage the brachial plexus as a pain generator. The traditional methods employed in performing interscalene or supraclavicular brachial plexus blocks are associated with multiple disadvantages. A new technique is described to meet five essential requirements encompassing safety, specificity, consistency, reproducibility and a high success rate. Relevant anatomy and proposed technique of brachial plexus block is described. The procedure is performed under fluoroscopy with contrast injection. It is concluded that the proposed technique of brachial plexus block is useful for brachial plexus blockade providing precision and specificity with minimal complications.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1979

[Evaluation of brachial plexus block. Comparison between supraclavicular and interscalene approach (author's transl)].

A scheme for evaluating brachial plexus block was developed, which is based on anatomical structures and which utilizes simple neurological examination techniques. It facilitates the localization of the tip of the cannula near the plexus, gives an idea of the spread of the local anesthetic in the region of the trunks and cords, gives well timed judgement on the success of the block and allows a comparison of the development of the block when using various techniques. Using this scheme, the development of the block was examined following use of the supraclavicular and interscalene approach. With the supraclavicular technique, motor as well as sensory blockade of all nerves of the brachial plexus occurred with about the same frequency; with the interscalene technique, the centre of the block affected the caudal nerves of the cervical plexus and the cranial nerves of the brachial plexus. Following both approaches, the blockade developed from proximal to distal areas, the motor blockade preceding the sensory blockade.

Brachial Plexus↗
PubMed2007

[Cancer pain treatment with nerve blocks and neuroablative procedures].

The management of opioid resistant cancer pain is a significant issue for palliative medicine. Certain types of pain can be relieved effectively using nerve blocks without exacerbating and sometimes improving daily activity as long as proper patient selection and technique are employed. Continuous epidural and subarachnoid block, celiac plexus block, superior hypogastric plexus block, subarachnoid phenol block and percutaneous cervical cordotomy are common pain treatment procedures. In our pain clinic, these procedures were performed on about 20% of cancer pain patients, most of whom experienced pain relief without serious complications. Proper use of nerve blocks and neuroablative procedures can undoubtedly improve the management of cancer pain and should be a significant component of the strategy for cancer pain relief.

Humans↗
PubMed1991

Somatosensory evoked potentials are unchanged by reflex sympathetic dystrophy and by stellate ganglion block.

Median nerve somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) were monitored in patients with chronic pain before and after stellate ganglion blockade. A change caused by the syndrome or by the block would suggest that SEPs might be useful in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic pain. We observed 20 subjects. Group I (n = 10) had chronic pain not involving the upper extremity. Group II (n = 8) had reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the arm. All patients underwent unilateral stellate ganglion block using an anterior paratracheal approach. The SEPs were recorded by median nerve stimulation on the blocked (affected) side and unblocked (unaffected) side before and 30 min after the block. Recording sites were ipsilateral brachial plexus, the cervical spinal cord, and the contralateral sensory cortex. There were no between-group differences before or after the block. Paired analysis within each group showed that the SEPs were not different from baseline (unaffected side before block) at any time throughout the study. We conclude that since SEPs are not changed by the reflex sympathetic dystrophy or stellate ganglion block, they would not be useful in the evaluation of pain or in determining the effectiveness of sympathetic block. Both the pain and the block appear to involve alteration of conducting pathways separate from those monitored by median nerve SEPs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[A study of cerebral circulation following cervical sympathetic ganglion block].

Cerebral circulation following cervical epidural block or stellate ganglion block at the transverse process of the 6th cervical vertebra (C6-SGB) was evaluated by single photon emission computed tomography of inhaled Xenon-133. Cerebral blood flow before and 15 min after both blocks was measured in eight patients after cervical epidural block and ten patients after C6-SGB. Cerebral blood flow decreased slightly following cervical epidural block, but it was not a statistically significant difference. Cerebral blood flow following C6-SGB could be separated into two groups; in one it increased and in the other it decreased slightly. In conclusion, cerebral circulation is not influenced by cervical epidural block, but it is probably affected by C6-SGB. The manner in which C6-SGB increases cerebral blood flow seems that local anesthetics reached the superior cervical ganglion and block it. C6-SGB without superior cervical ganglion block does not influence cerebral circulation, and it only dilates extracranial vessels.

Adult↗