We investigated the usefulness of peripheral flow index (PFI) measurement using a standard pulse oximetry digit probe for early prediction of successful regional blocks. Sixty-six patients scheduled for limb surgery underwent either axillary or sciatic block using a nerve stimulator technique with mepivacaine 1.5%. PFI, which is the ratio of the pulsatile versus the nonpulsatile component of the pulse oximetry signal, was recorded from 10 min before block insertion until 30 min afterwards. PFI recordings of the unblocked limb were similarly recorded. Pinprick and cold sensation were assessed at 5-min intervals until 30 min after blockade. An increase in PFI by a factor of 1.55 at 10 min after axillary block placement (P = 0.006), and 12 min after sciatic block placement (P = 0.001) was required to predict a successful block. The sensitivity and specificity of PFI was 100% for predicting axillary block outcomes at this time. Positive predictive value was 95% and negative predictive value was 93%. For sciatic blocks, sensitivity and specificity were 90% and 100%, respectively. The calculated positive predictive value at time 12 min for sciatic blocks was 94% and negative predictive value was 92%. At 15 min after block placement, cold and pinprick sensations had the same calculated values for sensitivity and specificity at 71% and 100%, respectively, for axillary blocks. For sciatic blocks, cold sensation had a sensitivity of 77% and a specificity of 100%, whereas pinprick had a sensitivity of just 20% with a specificity of 100%. We conclude that PFI provides a simple, early, and objective assessment of the success and failure of nerve blocks.

We designed this study to evaluate the usefulness of thermographic temperature measurement with an infrared camera, compared with patient response to cold and pinprick, as a means of assessing the success or failure of axillary blockades. Axillary blocks were performed on 25 patients undergoing surgery on the hand or forearm using a nerve stimulator technique with mepivacaine 1.5%. Pinprick and cold sensation were assessed on the operative site at 5-min intervals for 30 min. A thermographic image of the operative limb was recorded at similar time intervals. Thermographic images of the unblocked limb were taken before block placement and at 30 min. Temperature values at the operative site and unblocked limb were calculated from the thermographic images. Results revealed that thermography had higher combined values for sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values than both cold and pinprick at all time intervals, with statistically significant differences at 15 min (thermography versus cold, P = 0.006; thermography versus pinprick, P = 0.026) and 30 min (thermography versus cold, P = 0.038; thermography versus pinprick, P = 0.040). For thermography as a method of block assessment, an optimal time of 15 min after mepivacaine local anesthetic injection gives the highest combined values for predicting a successful block (P = 0.004). We conclude that thermography provides an early and objective assessment of the success and failure of axillary regional blockades.

The air-Q Intubating Laryngeal Airway (ILA) is a newly introduced extraglottic airway device. In this pilot study, we evaluated its use as a routine airway device during positive pressure ventilation. Ease of endotracheal intubation through the device was also assessed. Fifty-nine ASA I and II patients undergoing elective surgery received an air-Q ILA and an endotracheal tube where indicated. Insertion, ventilation and intubation characteristics were noted, as well as throat morbidity and occurrence of adverse events. An air-Q ILA was successfully inserted in 100% of patients. Mean leak pressure was 19±5 cmH2O. Endotracheal intubation was indicated in 19 patients and successful in 58% on the first attempt and 74% in total. Ten percent of the study patients were noted to have dysphagia. One patient was diagnosed with bilateral lingual nerve injury but made a complete recovery in four weeks. The air-Q ILA is an adequate extraglottic airway device in terms of insertion and ventilation. However, the proposed advantage of ease of endotracheal intubation requires further investigation.

During gynecological laparoscopy, the CobraPLA provides similar insertion characteristics, but higher airway sealing pressures than the LMA-Classic. The usefulness of this finding requires further investigation.

Remifentanil is an appropriate analgesic choice for patients undergoing extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) therapy, as it has both fast onset and offset times. We studied remifentanil as a sole drug for ESWL and have shown that an infusion rate of 0.05 microg x kg-1 x min-1 plus patient-controlled analgesia demands of 10 microg provides adequate analgesia and has significantly less side effects than a dose of 0.1 microg x kg-1 x min-1 plus 10 microg demands.

Background and Aim:Pain on intravenous (IV) cannulation continues to cause considerable anxiety among the patients visiting the hospital for elective surgery. Often, it is the only unpleasant experience, especially in ambulatory surgical settings. Although, anecdotal evidence suggests that antecubital fossa (ACF) might be less painful site for venous cannulation, no scientific study exists to validate the same.Methods:In this prospective randomised study, effect of site selection on pain of venous cannulation was studied. Fifty-five consecutive adults, scheduled to undergo elective surgery, were randomly allocated to get IV cannulation first on ACF (28 patients) or on dorsum of hand (DOH) (27 patients) followed by cannulation on the contralateral arm on the alternative site (DOH or ACF). Five patients were excluded due to multiple cannulation attempts. Pain scores on cannulation related to both sites were recorded and compared.Results:Non-parametric data and frequency data analysis, using the Wilcoxon signed rank test or the Chi-square test as appropriate, showed that ACF approach was significantly less painful in comparison to the DOH when using a 20-gauge cannula for venous cannulation (P < 0.05).Conclusion:We recommend that in the absence of any contraindications, ACF should be the cannulation site of choice. However, considerations like increased chance of kinking and obstruction might preclude such practice.

Background Patient satisfaction is a well-established indicator to evaluate the quality of medical care and there is an increasing support for the use of patient-reported experience measures (PREMs) to evaluate satisfaction. To anesthetize the upper limb for surgery, both general and regional plexus anaesthesia are appropriate techniques. However, the best technique in the anaesthesiologist’s perspective might not necessarily result in the highest patient satisfaction. The aim of this study is to investigate patient satisfaction following general and regional anaesthesia, and to identify areas where anaesthesiologists can focus on improving patient care. Methods Patients scheduled for elective distal upper extremity surgery under either general or regional plexus anaesthesia were prospectively included. On the first postoperative day, patient satisfaction and main reason for dissatisfaction with the anaesthesia technique were investigated during a telephone interview. Results Of the 243 patients included in the current study, 79.8% report being “fully satisfied” with their anaesthesia technique. 32.1% of the patients who received regional anaesthesia reported not feeling “fully satisfied”. This figure is 5.5% following general anaesthesia. Main reason for dissatisfaction following regional anaesthesia are reported as “insufficient anaesthesia prior to surgery”, and “the discomfort of having a long-lasting insensate extremity postoperatively”. Conclusions Following regional plexus anaesthesia, a third of the patients are not “fully satisfied”. To optimize patient satisfaction following regional anaesthesia techniques, we advocate stronger focus on patient counselling preoperatively, addressing the issues of block failure and prolonged postoperative sensory and motor block.

PTT is a reliable, quick and objective method to assess whether axillary block is going to be successful or not.