Hemodynamic Complications
DEFINITION Hypotension is broadly defined as abnormally low blood pressure. Investigators have often developed operational definitions of hypotension for use in individual studies. It is the variations in these operational…
ANESTHESIA
Complications Associated with Epidural, Facet Joint, and Sacroiliac Joint Injections
Nerve injury 28 Infection 24 Death/brain damage 9 Headache 20 Increased pain, no relief 10 From Fitzgibbon DR, Posner KL,Caplan RA, et al. Chronic pain management: American Society of Anesthesiologists…
The Role of Image Guidance in Improving the Safety of Pain Treatment
DEFINITION AND SCOPE Use of Diagnostic Imaging to Improve Safety Diagnostic imaging is used broadly across all of medical practice to investigate the anatomic basis for new onset of many…
Infectious Complications
DEFINITION Infectious complications may occur after any regional anesthetic technique but are of greatest concern if the infection occurs near or within the neuraxis. The possible risk factors include underlying…
Complications Associated with Systemic Opioids and Patient-controlled Analgesia
Analgesia Respiratory depression Cough suppression Nausea Euphoria Dysphoria Sedation Pruritus Miosis Direct bowel RESPIRATORY DEPRESSION Definition Respiratory depression is most…
The Use of Opioid Analgesics: Legal and Regulatory Issues
DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS BY STATE MEDICAL BOARDS In several studies, physicians have cited state medical board scrutiny as an obstacle to prescribing opioids for pain treatment. The U.S. government’s “war on…
Transient Neurologic Symptoms
DEFINITION AND HISTORY The first prospective safety study of intrathecal lidocaine was performed by Phillips et al.4 and published in 1968. This study evaluated 10,440 patients (93% obstetric) undergoing spinal…
Meningeal Puncture Headache
HISTORY AND CURRENT RELEVANCE As one of the earliest recognized complications of regional anesthesia, MPH has a long and colorful history.6 Dr. August Bier noted this adverse effect in the…
Complications Associated with Intrathecal Drug Delivery Systems
FIGURE 25-1. The Codman 3000 nonprogrammable, implantable intrathecal drug delivery pump. With the Codman system, intermittent injections can be given through a closed tip needle with a needle shaft aperture…
Complications Associated with Stellate Ganglion and Lumbar Sympathetic Blocks
STELLATE GANGLION BLOCK Definition and Scope Complications from stellate ganglion block can arise from inadvertent vascular, epidural, or intrathecal injection (Box 22-3). Needle trauma can result in injuries to vessels…
