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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVESMajor ankle surgery causes intense postoperative pain, and whereas the importance of a sciatic nerve block is well established, the clinical significance of a supplemental saphenous nerve block has never been determined in a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. We hypothesized that a saphenous nerve block reduces the proportion of patients experiencing significant clinical pain after major ankle surgery. METHODSEighteen patients were enrolled and received a popliteal sciatic nerve block. Patients were randomized to single-injection saphenous nerve block with 10 mL 0.5% bupivacaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine or 10 mL saline (Fig. 1). Primary outcome was the proportion of patients reporting significant clinical pain, defined as a score greater than 3 on the numerical rating scale. Secondary outcomes were maximal pain and analgesia of the cutaneous territory of the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve. RESULTSEight of 9 patients in the placebo group reported significant clinical pain versus 1 of 9 patients in the bupivacaine-epinephrine group (P = 0.003). Maximal pain was significantly lower in the active compared with the placebo group (median, 0 [0–0] vs 5 [4–6]; P = 0.001). Breakthrough pain from the saphenous territory began within 30 minutes after surgery in all cases. Sensory testing of the cutaneous territory of the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve showed correlation between pain reported in the anteromedial ankle region and the intensity of cutaneous sensory block in the anteromedial knee region. CONCLUSIONSThe saphenous nerve is an important contributor to postoperative pain after major ankle surgery, with significant clinical pain appearing within 30 minutes after surgery. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATIONThis study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT02697955.

Background and ObjectivesPatients undergoing major elective ankle surgery often experience pain from the saphenous nerve territory persisting beyond the duration of a single-injection saphenous nerve block. We hypothesized that perineural dexamethasone as an adjuvant for the saphenous nerve block prolongs the duration of analgesia and postpones as well as reduces opioid-requiring pain.MethodsForty patients were included in this prospective, randomized, controlled study. All patients received a continuous sciatic catheter and were randomized to receive a single-injection saphenous nerve block with 10 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine with addition of 1 mL of saline or 1 mL of 0.4% (ie, 4 mg) dexamethasone. The primary outcome was duration of saphenous nerve block estimated as the time until the first opioid request. Secondary outcomes were opioid consumption and pain.ResultsThe mean (SD) duration of the saphenous nerve block until first opioid request was 29.4 (8.4) hours in the dexamethasone group and 23.2 (10.3) hours in the control group (P = 0.048). The median opioid consumption [interquartile range] during the first 24 hours was 0 mg [0–0] versus 1.5 mg [0–14.2] in the dexamethasone and control groups, respectively. Nonparametric comparison of opioid consumption from 0 to 24 hours was statistically significant. The opioid consumption was similar in the two groups in the time interval 24 to 48 postoperative hours.ConclusionPerineural dexamethasone as an adjuvant for the single-injection subsartorial saphenous nerve block can prolong analgesia and reduce opioid-requiring pain after major ankle surgery.

This case report describes a patient in the ICU in need of urgent intubation, for whom video laryngoscope‐guided intubation had previously failed. The Infrared Red Intubation System (IRRIS) may enhance the chance of successful flexible bronchoscope intubation, especially when performed by non‐expert anesthesiologists. The main advantage of IRRIS is to provide an easily identifiable landmark to aim for, particularly where the view may be suboptimal. This may enhance the chance of successful flexible bronchoscope intubation, especially when performed by non‐experts.

Lazarus phenomenon or autoresuscitation is a very rare condition defined as delayed unassisted return of spontaneous circulation after cessation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Based on a case with a 67-year-old male who came back to life after discontinuation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, we discuss the background and possible countermeasures related to the Lazarus phenomenon.

The incidence and survival of patients with head-and-neck cancer have been on the increase for decades. Following surgery or radiation therapy, complications such as difficult airways may evolve. These difficult airways may be unique and not manageable with conventional intubation methods as well as video laryngoscopes. Acute awake fiberoptic intubation may be a feasible option also for urgent emergency airway management of known difficult airways. The “cannot intubate–cannot oxygenate” (CI–CO) situation has to be avoided at all costs, since emergency cricothyrotomy has a fail ratio of more than 50% when performed by an anesthesiologist.