Interspace between the Popliteal Artery and the Capsule of the Knee (IPACK) Block for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Surgery: A Two Case Series

This case series describes the use of Interspace between the Popliteal Artery and the Capsule of the Knee (IPACK) block to provide motor-sparing analgesia for two consecutive patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) by the same surgeon. Case 1 demonstrates the use of a proximal IPACK block as a post-operative rescue block for a patient who still experienced severe pain despite having received a femoral nerve block and parenteral opioids. Case 2 describes the use of a modified IPACK block as part of a multimodal approach with opioid and motor sparing effects. In both cases, the IPACK block provided satisfactory pain relief in the immediate postoperative period without motor weakness, making it an effective analgesic method for day surgery. With the IPACK block shown to be an effective nerve block for ACLR, we explore other advantages, limitations and further research required to better define the role of this block.

Effects of Lidocaine Infusion on Quality of Recovery and Agitation after Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery: Randomized Controlled Study

Background: After functional endoscopic nasal surgery, emergence agitation is not uncommon. The aim of this trial was to investigate the effect of perioperative lidocaine infusion on postoperative early recovery quality and incidence of emergence agitation in patient undergoing functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Study Design: Prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Methods: 100 patients of ASA I and II, aged 18 - 50 years, of both sexes scheduled for FEES, were assigned into two groups. In Group L;patients received an intravenous bolus infusion of 1.5 mg/kg lidocaine just before induction of anesthesia followed by a continuous infusion of 2 mg/kg/h during the operation and until the end of the surgery. In Group C;patients received normal saline infusion with the same volume as group L according to the same protocol. The primary endpoints were incidence of emergence agitation and postoperative recovery quality (QoR-40) score on first postoperative day (POD1). Results: Incidence of emergence agitation was significantly lower in group L (P < 0.05) compared with group C. Global QoR-40 scores on POD1 were significantly lower in both groups compared with preoperative assessment, it was significantly higher in group L on POD1 (P < 0.05) than in group C. Among the five dimensions of QoR-40, the scores for physical comfort and pain were superior in group L compared to group C (P < 0.05) at POD1. Conclusion: Systemic lidocaine infusion can improve QoR-40 scores and decrease incidence of emergence agitation in patients scheduled for FEES, also it reduces the duration of stay in PACU after surgery.

The Impact of Adding Magnesium Sulfate to Bupivacaine versus Bupivacaine Alone in Fascia Iliaca Compartment Block in Burn Patients Undergoing Skin Grafting Procedures;Comparative Study

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to evaluate the analgesic effect of adding magnesium sulfate to bupivacaine in Fascia Iliaca Compartment Block (FI-CB). Patients and Methods: Ninety-six burn patients scheduled for skin-grafting procedures were allocated into two equal groups. After induction of general anaethesia, forty-eight patients received US guided FICB using 35 ml bupivacaine 0.25% + 5 ml isotonic sodium chloride solution with a total volume of 40 ml. The other forty-eight patients received 35 ml bupivacaine 0.25% + 250 mg of magnesium sulfate with a total volume of 40 ml. Results: Total postoperative pethidine consumption in the first 24 h post-operative showed a highly statistically significant decrease in the magnesium group in comparison to the bupivacaine group. Conclusion: Adding magnesium sulfate to bupivacaine in FICB in skin grafting procedures decreased the pain scores post-operative, delayed the first request of analgesia and reduced the total analgesic consumption in the first 24 h post-operative without any significant side effects.