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Biomedical subjects

E Viel

Publications and source records attributed to E Viel.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Analgesia after hip fracture repair in elderly patients: the effect of a continuous femoral nerve block: a prospective and randomised study].

INTRODUCTION: The usefulness of peripheral femoral nerve block for pain management after hip fracture has been established. This prospective and randomised study compared the analgesia effect of a continuous femoral nerve block (CF) versus two conventional analgesia procedures after hip fracture. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients. (n=62) scheduled for surgery under spinal anaesthesia were prospectively included. After surgery, analgesia (48 hours) was randomised: group FC (femoral catheter, anterior paravascular approach, initial bolus followed by continuous infusion of ropivacaine 0.2%), group P (iv 2 g propacetamol/6 hours), group M (sc morphine, 0.05 mg/kg per 4 hour). Intravenous morphine titration was performed, followed by subcutaneous (sc) morphine every 4 hours according to the VAS score. The primary end-point was the morphine requirements. Secondary end-points were VAS score, side effects, and mortality. RESULTS: Demographic data and surgical procedures were similar between groups. After morphine titration, the VAS pain score did not differ between groups. All patients in-group M received additional morphine. Morphine mean consumption was increased in CF group: 26 mg (5-42) versus P: 8 mg (3-12) (p=0.0001) or M: 19 mg (8-33) (p<0.006) while constipation was decreased in P group vs CF. Percentage of patients requiring no morphine was similar between P (n=6; 28%) and CF (n=6; 28%) and greater than M (n=0; 0%). Hospital discharge, cardiovascular or pulmonary complications and mortality after 6 months showed no statistical difference. CONCLUSION: Continuous femoral nerve block provided limited pain relief after hip fracture did not reduced side effects and induced an expensive cost.

Aged↗

[Peripheral neurolytic blocks and spasticity].

Peripheral nerve blockade is one of the therapeutic possibilities to treat spasticity of various muscles. Percutaneous nerve stimulation allows accurate location of nerves and neurolysis can be performed using intraneural injection of 65% ethanol or 5 to 12% phenol. Spastic contraction of various muscle groups is a common source of pain and disability which prevents from having efficient rehabilitation. Test-blocks as well as neurolytic blocks are possible in most of motor nerves of the upper and lower limbs and main indications are spastic sequelae of stroke and spinal trauma but also of multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and chronic coma. The use of percutaneous nerve stimulation allows accurate location and four nerves are more frequently treated: pectoral nerve loop, median, obturator and tibial nerves. In patients with spasticity of the adductor thigh muscles, nerve blocks are performed via a combined approach using fluoroscopy and nerve stimulation to identify the obturator nerve. No complications occurred and minor side effects are transient painful phenomena during injection. These approaches proved to be accurate, fast, simple, highly successful and reproducible. Percutaneous neurolytic procedures should be done as early as possible, as soon as spasticity becomes painful and disabling in patients with neurological sequelae of stroke, head trauma or any lesion of the motor neuron.

Animals↗

[Morphine overdose due to cumulative errors leading to ACP pump dysfunction].

We report the case of a 67-year-female patient treated with a postoperative patient controlled analgesia using an Abbott Gemstar pump for after nephrectomy. In the postanaesthesia care unit, fifteen minutes after connecting with of the pump (which bag contained 100 mg of morphine) to the patient, respiratory arrest occurred. A morphine overdose was caused by uncontrolled delivery of the entire bag contents by free flowing due only to gravity. The patient was resuscitated immediately, and had uneventful recovery. This incident was the result of multiple misuse: one misconnection of the tubing between morphine bag and the patient thus shunting the antisiphon valve, and two an improper secured PCA cassette in an open position not detected by the pump. The tubing of these pumps and the software were subsequently modified by Abbott, which should reduce the risk of recurring incident. This accident points out that vigilance must remain rigorous in spite of widespread routine use of PCA.

Aged↗

[Alcohol neurolytic blocks for pain and muscle spasticity].

Peripheral nerve blockade is one of the therapeutic options for spasticity of various muscles. Percutaneous nerve stimulation allows accurate location of nerves and neurolysis can be performed using intraneural injection of 65% ethanol or 5 to 12% phenol. Spastic contraction of various muscle groups is a common source of pain and disability which prevents efficient rehabilitation. Neurolytic blocks are possible in most of motor nerves of the upper and lower limbs and main indications are spastic sequelae of stroke and spinal trauma but also of multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and chronic coma. The use of percutaneous nerve stimulation allows accurate location and four nerves are more frequently treated: pectoral nerve loop, median, obturator and tibial nerves. In patients with spasticity of the adductor thigh muscles, nerve blocks are performed via a combined approach using fluoroscopy and nerve stimulation to identify the obturator nerve. No complications occur and minor side effects are transient painful phenomena during injection. These approaches have proved to be accurate, fast, simple, highly successful and reproducible. Percutaneous neurolytic procedures, should be performed as early as possible, as soon as spasticity becomes painful and disabling in patients with neurological sequelae of stroke, head trauma or any lesion of the motor neurons.

Ethanol↗

Left atrial invasion by lung carcinoma through a pulmonary vein.

We describe a rare case of small-cell lung carcinoma invading the left atrium through a pulmonary vein. Echocardiography was particularly useful in this case in assessing the intracavitary extension of the tumor and the outcome of therapy. Echocardiography is a low-cost, easy imaging tool, complementary to radiological techniques and useful in evaluating thoracic tumors involving the cardiovascular structures.

Carcinoma, Small Cell↗

Clinical application of ropivacaine for the lower extremity.

Ropivacaine is a new amide local anaesthetic, which is the first commercially available in its category as a pure S-(-) enantiomer. In most recent studies, ropivacaine exhibited a very close pharmacodynamic profile to equipotent doses of bupivacaine. Concentrations of 0.5%, 0.75% and 1% (5, 7.5 and 10 mg/mL, respectively) ropivacaine are used for intraoperative anaesthesia, while the concentration of 0.2% (2 mg/mL) is preferred for postoperative analgesia, either alone or in combination with opioids and/or clonidine. Ropivacaine is responsible for excellent postoperative analgesia following epidural and peripheral perineural injections, using single-shot injections and continuous infusions. Differential sensory/motor block is only apparent at low concentrations (0.2% and less). A significant amount of recent literature focuses on its use for peripheral blocks of the lower limbs, i.e. sciatic and femoral nerve blocks. The primary benefit of ropivacaine is its lower toxicity, mainly lower cardiotoxicity, following accidental intravascular injection. This higher therapeutic index leads to an improved safety profile as compared with potent local anaesthetics such as racemic bupivacaine. For that reason, ropivacaine is a good choice for both intraoperative and postoperative regional anaesthesia and analgesia.

Amides↗

[Propacetamol: from basic action to clinical utilization].

OBJECTIVE: To review pharmacology and therapeutic use of propacetamol, an injectable prodrug of acetaminophen (paracetamol). DATA SOURCES: Extraction from the Medline database of French and English articles on pharmacology and clinical use of propacetamol. STUDY SELECTION: Articles providing new data into the mechanisms of the analgesic action of paracetamol. Selection of controlled studies (original articles and abstracts of oral communications on therapeutic trials with propacetamol as a single agent or part of balanced analgesia protocols). Case reports and letters to the editor were not considered in this analysis. DATA EXTRACTION: Clinical articles were selected for advantages and adverse effects of propacetamol. Articles dealing with mechanisms of action of propacetamol and paracetamol were selected for the more recent data, excluding those reporting outdated theories not confirmed or abandoned. DATA SYNTHESIS AND CONCLUSION: Mechanisms of action of paracetamol differ from those of NSAIDs, giving account of a low risk of adverse renal, gastrointestinal and haematological effects. Thanks to their high therapeutic index, prescription of propacetamol and paracetamol is quite simple and safe. Main indications of both drugs are painful conditions, especially but not exclusively in the postoperative period, not requiring opioids and also in combination with other analgesic drug and/or techniques (balanced or multimodal analgesia). Because of cost, IV propacetamol is changed for oral paracetamol as soon as possible.

Acetaminophen↗

Management of reflex sympathetic dystrophy.

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) is currently defined as CRPS type I (complex regional pain syndrome). Due to the lack of comprehensive understanding of underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, a wide variety of therapeutic approaches are proposed, all of them being of unpredictable and variable efficacy. This is also due to the lack of controlled studies and randomized therapeutic trials. Most of the so-called "efficient" treatments are in fact based on anecdotal case reports and/or uncontrolled studies with small number of cases. Sympathetic blocks and active physiotherapy are, for many authors, the cornerstones of the efficient management. The role of prevention must be strongly emphasized, focusing, if RSD occurs following surgery, on the importance of pre- and postoperative efficient analgesia.

Analgesia↗

[Postoperative locoregional analgesia in the adult: epidural and peripheral techniques. Indications, adverse effects and monitoring].

Regional analgesia is a very effective way to treat postoperative pain. Lumbar and thoracic epidural analgesia are well adapted to major abdominal and thoracic surgery. Nevertheless, respiratory side effects induced by opioids are potentially severe and an adequate monitoring is essential. In orthopaedic surgery, perineural blocks are the best technique to manage postoperative pain and perineural catheters may be used. The importance of intra-articular analgesia, simple and safe, is not fully understood. The association of a local anaesthetic inducing a minor motor block and a strong sensitive block (bupivacaine, ropivacaine), with an opioid seems to be the best pharmacologic choice regarding quality of analgesia and safety. Benefits of postoperative regional analgesia on mortality and morbidity are not demonstrated. Medical and nursing staff and specialized units should improve quality of postoperative regional analgesia as well. General guidelines for the practice of regional anaesthesia must be closely followed.

Analgesia, Epidural↗