Nevus flammeus is a skin disease caused by congenital skin capillary malformation. In recent years, photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been proved to be effective and safe for this disease, but significant pain in the treatment process is the biggest obstacle to the implementation of this therapy. This article reviews the current pain management strategies in PDT. The current pain management methods include topical anesthesia, cold air analgesia, nerve block and others. Topical anesthesia has weak analgesic effect and short duration in PDT. Cold air analgesia is simple and feasible, but there is potential risk of affecting the treatment effect. The analgesic effect of nerve block is accurate, but the application scenario is limited. For nevus flammeus patients who need PDT, individualized analgesia should be selected according to the patient’s age and treatment scenario.
Objective To compare the pain relief and rehabilitation effect of intercostal nerve block and conventional postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery. Methods China National Repository, Wanfang Database, VIP, China Biomedical Literature Database, Web of Science, Clinicaltrials.gov, Cochrane Library, EMbase and PubMed were searched from establishment of each database to 10 Febraray, 2022. Relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of intercostal nerve block in thoracoscopic surgery were collected, and meta-analysis was conducted after data extraction and quality evaluation of the studies meeting the inclusion criteria. Results A total of 21 RCTs and one semi-randomized study were identified, including 1 542 patients. Performance bias was the main bias risk. Intercostal nerve block had a significant effect on postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score at 12 h after surgery (MD=–1.45, 95%CI –1.88 to –1.02, P<0.000 01), VAS score at 24 h after surgery (MD=–1.28, 95%CI –1.67 to –0.89, P<0.000 01), and VAS score at 48 h after surgery significantly decreased (MD=–0.90, 95%CI –1.22 to –0.58, P<0.000 01). In exercise or cough state, VAS score at 24 h after surgery (MD=–2.40, 95%CI –2.66 to –2.14, P<0.000 01) and at 48 h after surgery decreased significantly (MD=–1.89, 95%CI –2.09 to –1.69, P<0.000 01). In the intercostal nerve block group, the number of compression of the intravenous analgesic automatic pump on the second day after surgery significantly reduced (SMD=–0.78, 95%CI –1.29 to –0.27, P=0.003). In addition to the analgesic pump, the amount of additional opioids significantly reduced (SMD=–2.05, 95%CI –3.65 to –0.45, P=0.01). Postoperative patient-controlled intravenous analgesia was reduced (SMD=–3.23, 95%CI –6.44 to –0.01, P=0.05). Patient satisfaction was significantly improved (RR=1.31, 95%CI 1.17 to 1.46, P<0.01). Chest tube indwelling time was significantly shortened (SMD=–0.64, 95%CI –0.84 to –0.45, P<0.001). The incidence of analgesia-related adverse reactions was significantly reduced (RR=0.43, 95%CI 0.33 to 0.56, P<0.000 01). Postoperative complications were significantly reduced (RR=0.28, 95%CI 0.18 to 0.44, P<0.000 01). Two studies showed that the length of hospital stay was significantly shortened in the intercostal nerve block group, which was statistically different (P≤0.05), and there was no statistical difference in one report. Conclusion The relief of acute postoperative pain and pain in the movement state is more prominent after intercostal nerve block. Intercostal nerve block is relatively safe and conforms to the concept of enhanced recovery after surgery, which can be extensively utilized in clinical practice.
Objective To compare the analgesic effect, duration and incidence of adverse reactions of liposome bupivacaine (LB) and bupivacaine hydrochloride after intercostal nerve block in single-port thoracoscopic lung surgery. Methods In Department of Thoracic Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University between September 2023 and March 2024, 228 patients who needed to undergo thoracoscopic lung surgery were selected and divided into two groups by random number table method: a group B with bupivacaine hydrochloride (n=118), and a group LB with LB (n=110). Intraoperative intercostal nerve block was performed under endoscopy, and the time of first use of analgesic drugs after surgery, cumulative use of opioids 72 h after surgery, incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, length of stay and other indicators were evaluated and recorded. Results Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores at 4 h, 8 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h in the LB group were significantly lower than those in the group B (P<0.05). The total number of activities within 48 h after surgery in the group B was significantly lower than that in the LB group (P<0.05), and the postoperative hospitalization stay in the LB group was shorter than that in the group B, but the difference was not statistically significant. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in postoperative adverse reactions. Conclusion Intercostal nerve block with LB during single-port thoracoscopic lung surgery can significantly reduce postoperative pain, improve quality of life, and promote recovery of the patients. It is worthy of clinical application.
ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate the analgesic efficacy of local infiltration analgesia versus femoral nerve block for total knee arthroplasty. MethodsDatabases including PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library (Issue 4, 2016), WanFang Data, CBM, and CNKI were searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about the analgesic efficacy of local infiltration analgesia versus femoral nerve block for total knee arthroplasty from inception to April 2016. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. The meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.3 software. ResultsA total of 13 RCTs involving 1 001 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that: There were no significant differences in pain scores at rest (SMD=0.02, 95%CI -0.23 to 0.27, P=0.86), morphine consumption on movement (MD=-1.85, 95%CI -4.67 to 0.97, P=0.20), incidence of post-operative nausea and vomiting (RD=0.02, 95%CI -0.03 to 0.08, P=0.41) and incidence of post-operative knee infection (RD=0.01, 95%CI -0.02 to 0.03, P=0.60) between the two groups, but he local infiltration analgesia group had lower length of stay than the femoral nerve block group with statistical difference (SMD=-0.24, 95%CI -0.41 to -0.07, P=0.005). ConclusionLocal infiltration analgesia provides similar postoperative analgesia after total knee arthroplasty to femoral nerve block. However, due to the limited quantity of the included studies, the above conclusion still need to be verified by more high quality studies.
Objective To compare the effect of sciatic nerve block (SNB) combined with continuted femoral nerve block (FNB) or continuted adductor canal block (ACB) on pain and motor function after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods A total of 60 patients with TKA-treated osteoarthritis of the knee who met the selection criteria were enrolled between November 2020 and February 2021 and randomised allocated into the study group (SNB combined with continuted ACB) and the control group (SNB combined with continuted FNB), with 30 cases in each group. There was no significant difference in gender, age, body mass, height, body mass index, preoperative Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score, femoral tibial angle, and medial proximal tibial angle between the two groups (P>0.05). The operation time, the initial time to the ground, the initial walking distance, and the postoperative hospital stay were recorded. At 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours after operation, the numerical rating scale (NRS) score was used to evaluate the rest pain around the knee joint, the quadriceps femoris muscle strength was evaluated by the freehand muscle strength method, and the knee flexion and extension angles were measured. Results There was no significant difference in the operation time and initial walking distance between the two groups (P>0.05); the initial time to the ground and postoperative hospital stay of the study group were significantly shorter than those of the control group (P<0.05). Except for the 48-hour postoperative NRS score of the study group, which was significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.05), there was no significant difference in the NRS scores between the two groups at the remaining time points (P>0.05). The quadriceps femoris muscle strength from 4 to 24 hours postoperatively and the knee extension angle from 2 to 6 hours postoperatively of the study group were significantly better than those of the control group (P<0.05); the differences in the quadriceps femoris muscle strength and knee extension and flexion angles between the two groups at the remaining time points were not significant (P>0.05). Conclusion SNB combined with either continuted ACB or continuted FNB can effectively relieve pain in patients after TKA, and compared with combined continuted FNB, combined continuted ACB has less effect on quadriceps femoris muscle strength, and patients have better recovery of knee flexion and extension mobility.
Objective To analyze the outcome of fast track surgery after intercostal nerve block (INB) during thoracoscopic resection of lung bullae. Methods We recuited 76 patients who accepted thoracoscopic resection of lung bullae from February 2013 to March 2015. They were randomly divided into two groups: an intercostal nerve block and intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (INB+IPCA) group, in which 38 patients (30 males, 8 females, with a mean age of 23.63±4.10 years) received INB intraoperatively and IPCA postoperatively, and a postoperative intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IPCA) group, in which 38 patients (33 males, 5 females, with a mean age of 24.93±6.34 years) only received IPCA postoperatively. Their general clinical data and the postoperative pain visual analogue scale (VAS) were recorded. Analgesia-associated side effects, rate of the pulmonary infection were observed. Expenses associated with analgesia during hospital were calculated. Results The score of VAS, the incidence of nausea and vomiting, fatigue and other side effects, pulmonary atelectasis and the infection rate in the INB+IPCA group were significantly lower than those in the IPCA group. Postoperative use of analgesic drugs was significantly less than that in the IPCA group. Medical expenses did not significantly increase. Conclusion INB+IPCA is beneficial for fast track surgery after thoracoscopic resection of lung bullae.
Objective To compare the analgesia effect and clinical rehabilitation between continuous adductor canal block (ACB) and single shot ACB in total knee arthroplasty (TKA)． Methods Between October 2016 and February 2017, 60 patients with severe knee osteoarthritis undergoing primary unilateral TKA were prospectively recruited in the study. All the patients were randomly allocated into 2 groups and received ultrasound-guided continuous ACB (group A, n=30) or single shot ACB (group B, n=30), respectively. There was no significant difference in gender, age, body mass index, nationality, American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) grading, and preoperative knee range of motion and quadriceps strength between 2 groups (P>0.05). After operation, the tourniquet time, postoperative drainage volume, hospitalization time, and adverse events in 2 groups were recorded. Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores at rest and during activity, the quadriceps strength, the knee range of motion, and the time of 90° knee flexion in 2 groups were also recorded and compared. Results There was no significant difference in tourniquet time, postoperative drainage volume, and incidence of adverse events between 2 groups (P>0.05). But the hospitalization time was significant shorter in group A than in group B (P<0.05). VAS scores at rest and during activity were lower in group A than in group B, with significant differences in VAS score at rest after 12 hours and in VAS score during activity after 8 hours between 2 groups (P<0.05). The quadriceps strength was higher in group A than in group B, with significant difference at 24, 48, and 72 hours (P<0.05). The knee range of motion was significantly better in group A than in group B at 24, 48, 72 hours and on discharge (P<0.05). The time of 90° knee flexion was significantly shorter in group A than in group B (t=–2.951, P=0.016). There were 4 patients in group A and 7 patients in group B requiring meperidine hydrochloride (50 mg/time) within 24 hours, and 3 patients in group A and 7 patients in group B at 24 to 48 hours, and 1 patient in group A and 3 patients in group B at 48 to 72 hours. Effusion in the catheter site occurred in 2 cases of group A, but no catheter extrusion occurred. Conclusion Continuous ACB is superior in analgesia both at rest and during activity and opioid consumption compared with single shot ACB after TKA. And the quadriceps strength could be reserved better in continuous ACB group, which can perform benefits in early rehabilitation.
ObjectiveTo determine the effectiveness of continuous intercostal nerve block for pain relief after thoracotomy.MethodsFrom November 2017 to October 2018, 120 patients who received thoracotomy procedure in our hospital were collected, including 60 males and 60 females aged 40-77 (58.10±7.00) years. The patients were randomly allocated into three groups by digital table including a continuous intercostal nerve block group (group A, n=40), a single intercostal nerve block group (group B, n=40), and an epidural analgesia group (group C, n=40). All the groups received the same basic analgesia. The pain scores and rescue analgesic doses were compared.ResultsOn postoperative day (POD) 0, all groups achieved effective pain control, and the visual analogue score was 2.02±0.39 points in the group A, 2.13±0.75 points in the group B and 2.03±0.69 points in the group C (P>0.05). On POD 0-2 and POD 3-4 (without basement analgesia), there was no significant difference between the group A and group C in the pain scores (2.08±0.28 points vs. 1.93±0.53 points, 3.20±0.53 points vs. 3.46±0.47 points, P>0.05), however, the difference between POD 0-2 and POD 3-4 in each group was stastically different (group A, 2.08±0.28 points vs. 3.20±0.53 points; group B, 2.42±0.73 points vs. 5.45±0.99 points; group C 1.93±0.53 points vs. 3.46±0.47 points, P<0.05). In terms of the rescue analgesic doses, there was no significant difference between the group A and group C (220.00±64.08 mg vs. 225.38±78.85 mg, P>0.05); it was larger in the group B than that in the group A and group C (343.33±119.56 mg vs. 220.00±64.08 mg; 343.33±119.56 mg vs. 225.38±78.85 mg, P<0.05).ConclusionMultimodal analgesia is an optimal choice in the initial stage after thoracotomy surgery. Continuous intercostal nerve block is an effective way to pain management in patients with thoracotomy.
ObjectiveTo summarize the early postoperative pain management strategies for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), and to select a reasonable and effective pain management plan to promote functional rehabilitation after ACLR. MethodsThe literature about the early postoperative pain management strategies of ACLR both domestically and internationally in recent years was extensiverly reviewed, and the effects of improving postoperative pain were reviewed. ResultsCurrently, physical therapy and oral medication have advantages such as economy and simplicity, but the effect of improving postoperative pain is not satisfactory, often requires a combination of intravenous injection or intravenous pump, which is also a common way to relieve pain. However, in order to meet the analgesic needs of patients, the amount of analgesic drugs used is often large, which increases the incidence of various adverse reactions. Local infiltration analgesia (LIA), including periarticular or intra-articular injection of drugs, can significantly improve the early postoperative pain of ACLR, and achieve similar postoperative effectiveness as nerve block. LIA can be used as an analgesic technique instead of nerve block, and avoid the corresponding weakness of innervated muscles caused by nerve block, which increases the risk of postoperative falls. Many studies have confirmed that LIA can alleviate postoperative early pain in ACLR, especially the analgesic effects of periarticular injection are more satisfactory. It can also avoid the risk of cartilage damage caused by intra-articular injection. However, the postoperative analgesic effect and timeliness still need to be improved. It is possible to consider combining multimodal mixed drug LIA (combined with intra-articular and periarticular) with other pain intervention methods to exert a synergistic effect, in order to avoid the side effects and risks brought by single drugs or single administration route. LIA is expected to become one of the most common methods for relieving postoperative early pain in ACLR. ConclusionEarly pain after arthroscopic ACLR still affects the further functional activities of patients, and all kinds of analgesic methods can achieve certain effectiveness, but there is no unified standard at present, and the advantages and disadvantages of various analgesic methods need further research.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of the inguinal approach versus classical pubic approach for obturator nerve block (ONB) in transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TUR-BT).MethodsDatabases including PubMed, The Cochrane Library, EMbase, Web of Science, WanFang Data, CNKI and VIP databases were electronically searched to identify randomized controlled trials using ONB in TUR-BT from inception to May 2020. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed risk bias of included studies. Meta-analysis was performed by using Stata 14.2 software.ResultsA total of 7 studies involving 474 patients were included. The meta-analysis results showed that there was no significant difference between inguinal approach and pubic approach in terms of the ONB success rate (RR=1.06, 95%CI 0.96 to 1.17, P=0.23), while the one-time success rate of puncture of inguinal approach was higher than that of pubic approach (RR=1.47, 95%CI 1.01 to 2.15, P=0.04). Compared with the pubic approach, the overall complications of inguinal approach were lower (RR=0.24, 95%CI 0.08 to 0.71, P=0.01). However, no significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of subcutaneous hematoma (RR=0.46, 95%CI 0.08 to 2.66, P=0.38).ConclusionsThe current evidence indicates that the success rate of one puncture of inguinal approach is higher than that of pubic approach, and the overall complications of the inguinal approach are much lower than that of the pubic approach. However, the above conclusions are still required to be verified through more high-quality studies due to the limited quantity and quality of included studies.