Researchers Looking for the Best Way to Keep Patients Safe During Anesthesia for Shoulder Surgery

Interscalene blocks are a type of regional anesthesia used to relieve pain during and after shoulder surgery. This procedure can lead to numbing of the phrenic nerve as well, however, which can lead to pulmonary complications. Researchers at Stanford University are experimenting with different amounts of saline that can help reverse the phrenic nerve blockade while still maintaining analgesic effect.

Experimental Lidocaine Derivatives May Be the Future of Postoperative Pain Control

Researchers from the University of British Columbia studied three lidocaine derivatives for use as motor blockade with promising results. This study provides insight into developing more effective, longer-lasting non-opioid local anesthetics, which could improve postoperative pain control. ASRA presented researchers with “Best of Meeting Abstract” and “Resident/Fellow Travel Award” for their work.

The Sooner Hip Replacement Patients Can Get Up and Walk after Surgery, the Faster They Can Recover at Home

The sooner hip replacement patients can walk after surgery, the faster they can be discharged, allowing for more comfortable recovery at home, lower overall cost of care, and increased availability of critical hospital resources. Results of a recent study found that patients who received mepivacaine spinal anesthesia were more likely to ambulate early and be discharged on the day of surgery.