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Alain Borgeat

Publications and source records attributed to Alain Borgeat.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Evaluation of the lateral modified approach for continuous interscalene block after shoulder surgery.

BACKGROUND: Continuous interscalene block is the technique of choice for postoperative pain relief treatment after shoulder surgery. The authors prospectively evaluated the modified lateral approach for the performance of the interscalene catheter block and monitored 700 patients for clinical efficacy and complications during the first 6 months after placement of the catheter. METHODS: A total of 700 adults scheduled to undergo elective shoulder surgery performed with an interscalene brachial plexus block through an interscalene catheter were included in this study. The interscalene brachial plexus block procedure was standardized for all patients. Difficulties in placement of the catheter, clinical efficacy of anesthesia and analgesia, patient satisfaction, and acute and chronic complications were recorded. Patients were observed daily for 5 days for any complications and were evaluated at 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery. Persistence of neurologic complication was investigated by electroneuromyography. RESULTS: A total of 700 adults completed the study. Easy placement of the catheter (one attempt) was achieved in 86% of the patients. Resistance to thread the catheter was encountered in 6%; no major complications were observed during injection of the initial bolus. The success rate for anesthesia was 97%. Postoperative analgesia was efficient in 99%. The concentration and the rate of infusion of ropivacaine had to be increased in 31 patients (6%). In five patients (0.7%), signs of local infection around the puncture point were noted; in one patient (0.1%), a collection of pus was surgically drained. Patient satisfaction was 9.6 on a scale of 0-10. Minor neurologic complications (paresthesias, dysesthesias, pain not related to surgery) were observed in 2.4%, 0.3%, and 0% at 1, 3, and 6 months, respectively. At 1 month, three sulcus ulnaris syndromes, one carpal tunnel syndrome, and one complex regional pain syndrome were diagnosed. Two patients (0.2%) had sensory-motor deficit, which necessitated 19 and 28 weeks to recover. Electromyography was suggestive of partial axonotmesis. CONCLUSION: The lateral modified approach provides good conditions for placement of the interscalene catheter. Anesthesia and analgesia performed through the catheter are efficient. The rates of infection and neurologic complications are low, and patient satisfaction is high.

Adolescent↗

Use of a double epidural catheter provides effective postoperative analgesia after spine deformity surgery.

PURPOSE: Spine deformity surgery is a painful procedure in which pain control is difficult to obtain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of double epidural catheters in this setting. METHODS: Twenty-three patients scheduled for an elective spine deformity surgery were included prospectively. At the end of surgery, the surgeon inserted two epidural catheters, one cranial, one caudal to the surgical field. In the recovery room the catheters were both injected with a bolus of bupivacaine 0.0625%. In the absence of any neurological abnormality a continuous infusion of bupivacaine 0.0625%, fentanyl 2 microg.mL(-1) and clonidine 3 microg.mL(-1) was administered at a rate of 10 mL.hr(-1) through each catheter for 48 hr. Pain score, sedation level, motor block and side-effects were checked regularly. RESULTS: Complete analgesia (VAS=0) was obtained at rest in all patients. During mobilization and physiotherapy four patients (17%) had a VAS 30. No motor block was observed. Four patients (17%) had nausea and vomiting. No excessive sedation, pruritus or respiratory depression were observed. Early mobilization was possible in all patients. CONCLUSION: Postoperative epidural analgesia by means of a double catheter is an effective technique to control pain after spine deformity surgery and is associated with a low incidence of side-effects.

Adolescent↗

Persistent paraplegia after an aqueous 7.5% phenol solution to the anterior motor root for intercostal neurolysis: a case report.

A 55-year-old white man with severe scoliosis and chest deformity was scheduled for an intercostal neurolysis for pain relief with 7.5% aqueous phenol solution. A 20 G needle was inserted 3 to 4cm lateral to the midline of the spine under the 10th right rib. After negative aspiration for blood and alcohol, 6mL of a 7.5% aqueous phenol solution was injected. Within a minute after the injection, the patient felt a warm sensation in his right leg, followed by loss of leg motor and sensory function on both sides. A lumbar puncture done 3.5 hours after the block showed a phenol concentration of 87.5 microg/mL. The most likely explanation is a diffusion of the phenol through the intervertebral foraminae reaching the spinal space and therefore damaging the motor and sensory roots. This case highlights the danger associated with phenol application in the vicinity of the spinal cord.

Humans↗

Anaesthesia for shoulder surgery.

Early and efficient rehabilitation is necessary for improving outcome after shoulder surgery. Pain, which is severe to very severe in this condition, is the major factor which compromises early physical therapy. Interscalene block is a well recognized and efficient technique for controlling pain after major open shoulder surgery. Among the different approaches which have been described, the modified lateral technique is the safest to perform and the most suitable for insertion of an interscalene catheter. A number of different techniques have been tried to control pain after shoulder surgery. However, the application of a continuous infusion of local anaesthetics through an interscalene catheter is actually the best technique available to achieve pain relief at rest and on movement after this type of surgery. This chapter emphasizes the advantages of the modified lateral approach, the use of patient-controlled interscalene analgesia and the traps and tricks of the interscalene block. Thus, this chapter demonstrates why interscalene anaesthesia and analgesia are the most appropriate techniques for shoulder surgery.

Analgesia, Patient-Controlled↗

Interscalene and infraclavicular block for bilateral distal radius fracture.

UNLABELLED: Brachial plexus blockade is a suitable technique for surgery of the forearm, because it provides good intraoperative anesthesia as well as prolonged postoperative analgesia when long-acting local anesthetics are used. However, simultaneous blockade of both upper extremities has rarely been performed (1), because local anesthetic toxicity caused by the amount of drug needed to achieve an efficient block on both sides may be a problem. We report a case of successful bilateral brachial plexus block with ropivacaine in a patient with bilateral distal radius fracture, with each fracture requiring an open osteosynthesis. IMPLICATIONS: This case report presents the performance of a simultaneous blockade of both upper extremities in a patient who sustained a bilateral distal radius fracture. The patient was known to be difficult to intubate and to have a severe hypersensitivity to opioids.

Adult↗

Brachial plexus block.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: In recent years there has been a renewed interest in regional anesthesia, particularly peripheral nerve blockade, in order not only to improve the patient's well being, but also to meet the requirements of modern orthopedic surgery. These requirements include appropriate conditions to perform early and efficient rehabilitation. RECENT FINDINGS: The upper extremity is well designed for the practice of the perineural catheter technique, since we have three main approaches, interscalene, infraclavicular and axillary, which allow all territories involved in specific surgical procedures to be blocked with only one shot or catheter. Recent developments have focused on modification of traditional technical approaches, improving the safety of the procedure, finding a more efficient way to administer the local anesthetic through the perineural catheter, and examining new indications and modes of performing regional anesthesia. SUMMARY: Early rehabilitation is currently a key point for the success of orthopedic surgery. The rapid development of peripheral nerve blockade gives the anesthesiologist the means to face this new challenge.

Journal Article↗

Diaphragmatic excursion and respiratory function after the modified Raj technique of the infraclavicular plexus block.

BACKGROUND: The effects of the infraclavicular plexus block using the modified Raj approach on diaphragm and respiratory function have not been investigated. METHODS: After obtaining approval of the local ethics committee and written informed consent, 20 patients, scheduled for surgery of the forearm, wrist, or hand were prospectively included. Infraclavicular block was performed using the modified Raj technique with 40 to 50 mL ropivacaine 0.5%. Forced diaphragmatic excursion (DE), vital capacity (VC), first-second forced expiratory volume (FEV(1)), and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) were assessed the day before surgery and 30 and 360 minutes after blocks, respectively. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between pre- and postblock values, neither for DE (5.6 +/- 1.0 cm before the block, 5.2 +/- 1.4 cm 30 minutes after the block, and 5.7 +/- 1.4 cm 360 minutes after the block) nor for VC (3.2 +/- 0.8 L before the block, 3.1 +/- 0.9 L 30 minutes after the block, and 3.0 +/- 0.9 L 360 minutes after the block), FEV(1) (2.8 +/- 0.9 L before the block, 2.8 +/- 0.9 L 30 minutes after the block, and 2.7 +/- 0.9 L 360 minutes after the block), or PEFR (378 +/- 116 L/min before the block, 355 +/- 110 L/min 30 minutes after the block, and 364 +/- 116 L/min 360 minutes after the block). CONCLUSION: Infraclavicular block using the modified Raj technique did not interfere with diaphragmatic excursion or respiratory function.

Adult↗

Clinical evaluation of a modified posterior anatomical approach to performing the popliteal block.

BACKGROUND: Tibial and common peroneal nerves can be blocked by the posterior approach to the popliteal fossa. Techniques using fixed measured distances between knee skin crease and puncture point have been described. We report on an approach that is based on manual identification of the apex of the popliteal fossa. METHODS: Five-hundred patients undergoing surgery of ankle or foot were prospectively included. The apex of the popliteal fossa (determined by the crossing point of the biceps femoris and the semitendinosus and semimembranosus muscles) was assessed by manual palpation. The puncture point was 0.5 cm below the apex, on the medial side of the biceps femoris muscle. When indicated for postoperative analgesia, a perineural catheter was placed. We assessed success rate, number of attempts, the distance between knee skin crease and the apex of the popliteal fossa, nerve depth, and acute and late complications. RESULTS: Block success rate was 94% and 92% when the block was performed through the needle and the catheter, respectively. Inversion was the motor response with the highest success rate. The first attempt was successful in 97.5% of the patients. Mean depth of the nerve was 4.5 cm (range, 2.0 to 7.0 cm) and mean knee skin crease to apex of popliteal fossa distance was 9 cm (range, 7.0 to 12.0 cm). Nine patients (2%) had acute complications. There were no technical problems associated with the perineural nerve catheter. After 12 weeks, no late complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The modified posterior anatomical approach for popliteal sciatic nerve block is easy to perform, has a high success rate, and has a low complication rate. The location of the needle insertion point is assessed without any measurement, thus avoiding inaccuracies caused by repeated skin-distance measurements.

Adolescent↗

Interscalene brachial plexus anesthesia with ropivacaine 5 mg/mL and bupivacaine 5 mg/mL: effects on electrocardiogram.

BACKGROUND: Cardiotoxicity is the most severe complication of long-acting local anesthetics. The aim of this trial is to compare early signs of depression of cardiac conduction linked with the administration of either ropivacaine or bupivacaine for interscalene block. METHODS: Thirty-two patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists I/II) scheduled for elective shoulder arthroscopy were prospectively enrolled to receive, in a randomized and double-blind fashion, either 40 mL of ropivacaine 5 mg/mL or 40 mL of bupivacaine 5 mg/mL for interscalene block. Holter monitoring was started the night before surgery and continued until the end of the study. Peripheral blood sampling was performed before administration of local anesthetics (= baseline) and 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 60, and 360 minutes after completion of the interscalene block for measurement of total and unbound concentration of the 2 local anesthetics. Alpha-1-acid-glycoprotein was measured at baseline, t(30), and t(360). RESULTS: All anesthetic blocks in both groups were successful and comparable. Electrocardiographic recordings for QRS, QT, and QTC intervals did not change and were similar in both groups. In the bupivacaine group, significant prolongation of the PQ interval was noted 15 minutes after drug application and remained significantly prolonged until t(60). Total and unbound plasma local-anesthetic concentrations were comparable between both groups at all times. In both groups, local-anesthetic plasma mean levels reached a peak between 30 and 45 minutes after the bolus application. The highest mean plasma levels were 0.103 (+/-0.05) mg/L for unbound ropivacaine and 0.084 (+/-0.03) mg/L for unbound bupivacaine, which occurred in both groups at t(30). CONCLUSIONS: Electrocardiographic recordings were similar in both groups, except for a significant prolongation of the PQ interval in the bupivacaine group at plasma levels below threshold for cardiotoxicity.

Adult↗