A continuous peripheral nerve block, also termed "perineural local anesthetic infusion," involves the percutaneous insertion of a catheter adjacent to a peripheral nerve, followed by local anesthetic administration via the catheter, providing anesthesia/analgesia for multiple days or even months. Continuous peripheral nerve blocks may be provided in the hospital setting, but the use of lightweight, portable pumps permits ambulatory infusion as well. This technique's most common application is providing analgesia after surgical procedures. However, additional indications include treating intractable hiccups; inducing a sympathectomy and vasodilation to increase blood flow after a vascular accident, digit transfer/replantation, or limb salvage; alleviating vasospasm of Raynaud disease; and treating peripheral embolism and chronic pain such as complex regional pain syndrome, phantom limb pain, trigeminal neuralgia, and cancer-induced pain. After trauma, perineural infusion can provide analgesia during transportation to a distant treatment center, or while simply awaiting surgical repair. Catheter insertion may be accomplished using many possible modalities, including nerve stimulation, ultrasound guidance, paresthesia induction, fluoroscopic imaging, and simple tactile perceptions ("facial click"). Either a nonstimulating epidural-type catheter may be used, or a "stimulating catheter" that delivers electrical current to its tip. Administered infusate generally includes exclusively long-acting, dilute, local anesthetic delivered as a bolus only, basal only, or basal-bolus combination. Documented benefits appear to be dependent on successfully improving analgesia, and include decreasing baseline/breakthrough/dynamic pain, supplemental analgesic requirements, opioid-related side effects, and sleep disturbances. In some cases, patient satisfaction and ambulation/functioning may be improved; an accelerated resumption of passive joint range-of-motion realized; and the time until discharge readiness as well as actual discharge from the hospital or rehabilitation center achieved. Lastly, postoperative joint inflammation and inflammatory markers may be decreased. Nearly all benefits occur during the infusion itself, but several randomized controlled trials suggest that in some situations there are prolonged benefits after catheter removal as well. Easily rectified minor complications occur somewhat frequently, but major risks including clinically relevant infection and nerve injury are relatively rare. This article is an evidence-based review of the published literature involving continuous peripheral nerve blocks.

Continuous Peripheral Nerve Blocks: A Review of the Published Evidence

BACKGROUND: The French-Language Society of Paediatric Anaesthesiologists (ADARPEF) designed a 1-year prospective, multicenter and anonymous study to update both epidemiology and morbidity of regional anesthesia in children. METHODS: From November 2005 to October 2006, data from participating hospitals were recorded using an identification form, a data recording form, and a complication form. Information collected included the characteristics of the hospitals, the number and type of regional anesthetics (RA), the age of the involved children as well as the incidence, and type of complications. RESULTS: Data collected in 47 institutions included 104,612 pure general anesthesias (GAs), 29,870 GAs associated with regional blocks, and 1262 pure regional blocks. Central blocks accounted for 34% of all RA. Peripheral blocks (66%) were upper or lower limb blocks (29% of peripheral blocks), trunk blocks, and face blocks (71%). In children aged ≤3 years, the percentage of central blocks was similar to the peripheral ones (45% vs 55), while in older children, peripheral blocks were more than four times used than central ones. Complications (41 involving 40 patients) were rare and usually minor. They did not result in any sequelae. The study revealed an overall rate of complication of 0.12%; CI 95% [0.09-0.17], significantly six times higher for central than for peripheral blocks. CONCLUSIONS: As a result of the low rate of complications, RA techniques have a good safety profile and can be used to provide postoperative analgesia. In addition, the results should encourage anesthesiologists to continue to use peripheral instead of central (including caudal) blocks as often as possible when appropriate.

/pdf/epidemiology-and-morbidity-of-regional-anesthesia-in-neaodmltxn.pdf

Epidemiology and morbidity of regional anesthesia in children : a follow-up one-year prospective survey of the French-Language Society of Paediatric Anaesthesiologists (ADARPEF)

Treatment of complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS-I) is subject to discussion. The purpose of this study was to develop multidisciplinary guidelines for treatment of CRPS-I. A multidisciplinary task force graded literature evaluating treatment effects for CRPS-I according to their strength of evidence, published between 1980 to June 2005. Treatment recommendations based on the literature findings were formulated and formally approved by all Dutch professional associations involved in CRPS-I treatment. For pain treatment, the WHO analgesic ladder is advised with the exception of strong opioids. For neuropathic pain, anticonvulsants and tricyclic antidepressants may be considered. For inflammatory symptoms, free-radical scavengers (dimethylsulphoxide or acetylcysteine) are advised. To promote peripheral blood flow, vasodilatory medication may be considered. Percutaneous sympathetic blockades may be used to increase blood flow in case vasodilatory medication has insufficient effect. To decrease functional limitations, standardised physiotherapy and occupational therapy are advised. To prevent the occurrence of CRPS-I after wrist fractures, vitamin C is recommended. Adequate perioperative analgesia, limitation of operating time, limited use of tourniquet, and use of regional anaesthetic techniques are recommended for secondary prevention of CRPS-I. Based on the literature identified and the extent of evidence found for therapeutic interventions for CRPS-I, we conclude that further research is needed into each of the therapeutic modalities discussed in the guidelines.

http://rsds.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Perez_Zollinger_BMCNeurol_2010.pdf

Evidence based guidelines for complex regional pain syndrome type 1

Background: Recurrent complex regional pain syndrome I is not rare in the pediatric population. The authors conducted this study to evaluate the efficacy of continuous peripheral nerve blocks with elastomeric disposable pumps associated with initial Bier blocks for the treatment of recurrent complex regional pain syndrome I in children. Methods: After parental informed consent, 13 children who did not respond to conventional complex regional pain syndrome treatment were included (mean age, 13 yr; range, 9‐ 16 yr). After general anesthesia, peripheral nerve block was performed using 0.5 ml/kg lidocaine, 1%, with epinephrine and 0.5% ropivacaine injected in the peripheral nerve block catheter. Then, a 20-min Bier block was performed using a tourniquet and 0.2 ml/kg lidocaine, 1%; 3 ml/kg hydroxyethyl starch 130/06; and 5 mg/kg buflomedil injected intravenously. A solution of 0.1 ml · kg 1 ·h 1 continuous ropivacaine, 0.2%, was infused through the catheter using an elastomeric pump for 96 h. Need for rescue analgesia, occurrence of side effects, and status of motor and sensory block were recorded at hours 1, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96. Children and parents completed a satisfaction assessment. All of the children had follow-up visits after 2 months. Results: Postoperative analgesia was excellent. The median pain score was 0 for each period studied. Motor blockade was minimal before 12 h (median, 1) and absent thereafter. One child needed rescue analgesia. All children were able to walk easily after the initial 24-h period (walking score, > 4). Children and parents were all satisfied. Children returned home under parental surveillance beginning in the 24th hour. Neither peripheral nerve block nor Bier block caused side effects. After 2 months, none of the children exhibited any clinical symptom of recurrent complex regional pain syndrome. Conclusion: Ambulatory continuous peripheral nerve block associated with an initial Bier block seems to be a significant and novel contribution to treat recurrent pediatric complex regional pain syndrome I. It allows complete pain relief, early mobilization, and rapid return home, representing a psychological advantage for these children. COMPLEX regional pain syndrome (CRPS) type I is defined as a painful, disabling syndrome accompanied by edema and sudomotor and vasomotor dysfunction. Various treatments in adults have been reported, but no technique has shown superiority for treating or preventing CRPS I. 1 The reported methods include physical therapy, behavioral measures, and use of antidepressants, anticonvulsants, or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Other authors have proposed regional anesthesia with intravenous local anesthetics, guanethidine, reserpine, bretylium, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, droperidol or calcium-regulating drugs, 1 or blockade of sympathetic activity by epidural analgesia 2 or peripheral nerve blocks. 3–5

Continuous peripheral nerve blocks at home for treatment of recurrent complex regional pain syndrome I in children.

Purpose. The properties, performance, and applications of nonelectric disposable infusion pumps are reviewed.

Summary. All nonelectric disposable infusion pumps exploit the same physical principle: mechanical restriction within the flow path determines the speed of pressurized fluid. The pressure generated by disposable pumps on fluid is 250–600 mm Hg, compared with 5–1200 mm Hg of pressure for electric pumps. There are several types of disposable infusion pumps, including elastomeric, positive-pressure (spring-powered and gas-pressure-powered), negative-pressure (vacuum), and patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pumps. The accuracy of each pump’s flow rate is dependent on several factors, including temperature, fluid viscosity, atmospheric pressure, back pressure, partial filling, and storage. Disposable infusion pumps can be used in many areas, including home care, PCA, patient-controlled epidural analgesia, continuous peripheral analgesia, continuous epidural analgesia, continuous i.v. analgesia, and pediatrics applications. The advantages of disposable infusion pumps include their light weight, small size, simplicity of use, independence from an external power supply, elimination of programming errors, and disposability. Disadvantages include the possibility of inaccurate flow rates, fixed reservoir volume, lack of a facility to change the flow rate and bolus-dose volume to provide adequate analgesia, inability to trace the history of the analgesia demand by patients, inability to combine PCA with background continuous infusions, and long-term cost.

Conclusion. Despite some disadvantages and limited areas of applicability, disposable infusion pumps provide patients with advantages, such as portability, simplicity, and disposability, especially for the administration of analgesia. Understanding their physical and mechanical characteristics and their appropriate application may optimize patient care.

Disposable infusion pumps.

Clonidine Prolongation of Caudal Anesthesia in Children C Beauvoir

Clonidine Prolongation of Epidural Blockade in Children

Continuous peripheral nerve blocks (CPNB) after pediatric major orthopedic surgery are not widely used. We conducted a prospective descriptive study to evaluate the effectiveness of disposable elastomeric pumps for CPNB in children. After inducing general anesthesia, 25 consecutive children scheduled for major orthopedic surgery received a 0.5-mL/kg bolus of a mixture of 1% lidocaine with epinephrine and 0.25% bupivacaine in axillary, femoral, or popliteal catheters. After surgery, disposable pumps with 0.2% ropivacaine were connected. Pump flows were adjusted to the patient's weight. Postoperative pain was evaluated using a visual analog scale or Children and Infants Postoperative Pain Scale scores at H1, H6, H12, H24, and H48, as well as amounts of rescue analgesia, adverse events, and motor and sensory block. An ambulation score for the children was also evaluated. Eleven popliteal, nine femoral, and five axillary continuous blocks were performed. All the blocks were effective for surgery. The mean total dose consumption of 0.2% ropivacaine was 10.1 mg/kg. Disposable pump flow varied from -9.61% to +8.6% compared with the theoretical one. Postoperative analgesia was excellent. The median of pain score was zero at each period studied. Sensory and motor block were noted at H1 and decreased from the sixth hour. No adverse events were noted. We concluded that the use of elastomeric disposable pumps for CPNB in children was an effective technique.

Perioperative continuous peripheral nerve blocks with disposable infusion pumps in children: a prospective descriptive study.

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Continuous peripheral nerve blocks at home for treatment of recurrent complex regional pain syndrome I in children.

Clonidine Prolongation of Caudal Anesthesia in Children C Beauvoir

Clonidine Prolongation of Epidural Blockade in Children

Perioperative continuous peripheral nerve blocks with disposable infusion pumps in children: a prospective descriptive study.