Masoud Hashemi; Payman Dadkhah; Mehrdad Taheri; Mahshid Ghasemi
Volume 7, Issue 3 , July 2019, , Pages 245-250
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the effects of dexmedetomidine in caudal epidural on controlling pain, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and quality of life in patients with failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS).Methods: The study was a single-blind clinical trial. From the total of 70 patients suffering from ...
Read More
Objective: To evaluate the effects of dexmedetomidine in caudal epidural on controlling pain, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and quality of life in patients with failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS).Methods: The study was a single-blind clinical trial. From the total of 70 patients suffering from low back pain caused by a failed back surgery syndrome were referred to Akhtar and Imam Hossein Hospitals between the ages of 25 to 75 years with a history of back pain more than 12 weeks and a visual analogue scale (VAS) score of higher than 3, and 50 people were randomly selected and divided into two groups of dexmedetomidine and control. The control group received an epidural dose of 10 cc containing triamcinolone and bupivacaine, and the dexmedetomidine group received an epidural dose of 10 cc, containing dexmedetomidine, triamcinolones and bupivacaine with diluted normal saline. Epidural caudal injections were performed in the abdomen in a laid down position. Before starting the study and at the end of the fourth week, the two test groups were measured for visual analogue scale (VAS) and ESR and were asked to complete the quality of life questionnaire.Results: Overall, 50 patients with FBSS were enrolled. The mean age was 53.88 ± 8.9 years (range 25–75); 54% (27/50) were men. The results showed that the injection of dexmedetomidine in epidural caudal was associated with decreased pain (p=0.001) and improved quality of life (p=0.022), while showed no significant effect on ESR (p=0.110).Conclusion: Administration of dexmedetomidine in the epidural caudal is effective in controlling pain and quality of life in patients with failed back surgery syndrome.Clinical Trial Registry: IRCT20181012041316N1
Behnam Hosseini; Faramarz Mosaffa; Shideh Dabir; Hamed Tanghatari; Mehrdad Taheri
Volume 7, Issue 2 , April 2019, , Pages 130-136
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the evolution pattern of epidural block after rotating the needle tip 45° to the operative side and evaluate its effects on patients’ hemodynamics and recovery profile in those undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery.Methods: Forty participants were randomly subdivided into ...
Read More
Objective: To evaluate the evolution pattern of epidural block after rotating the needle tip 45° to the operative side and evaluate its effects on patients’ hemodynamics and recovery profile in those undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery.Methods: Forty participants were randomly subdivided into control and rotation group (n=20). An 18-gauge, 3.5 inch, Tuohy needle was placed at the level of L4-5 and pushed forward into the epidural space through parasagittal approach, in control group, the needle was pushed forward to the epidural space in cephaldad 90 degrees. For the rotation group, the needle was pushed forward to the epidural space and the tip was rotated 45 degrees to the surgical side.15 mL of bupivacaine 0.5% was injected and evolution of sensory and motor blocks until 2-segment regression of the sensory level below to T10 as well as total duration of motor block and surgery were recorded. Hemodynamic parameters (HR, MAP, and SPO2), hypotension, fluid intake, vasopressors, first ambulation and spontaneous urination were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS and P≤0.5 considered significant.Results: Sensory block up to T10 level, Complete motor block and time for 2-segment regression of sensory level were earlier in the 45°-rotation than in the control group (p<0.001).Total duration of motor block in control group was lower than rotation group (p<0.001).Hypotension, N&V, vasopressors and fluid intake showed no statistically difference between the two groups (p=0.219). First spontaneous urination and ambulation were significantly lower in rotation group (p<0.001).Conclusion: 45 degrees’ needle rotation to the surgical side provides a faster block evolution and hastened recovery profile with no significant difference in hemodynamic fluctuations.Clinical trial registry: IRCT20130518013364N7
Masoud Hashemi; Payman Dadkhah; Mehrdad Taheri; Kasra Dehghan; Rohollah Valizadeh
Volume 7, Issue 2 , April 2019, , Pages 137-143
Abstract
Objective: To compare parasagittal interlaminar cervical epidural steroid injection (PSIL-CESI) and the classic midline interlaminar cervical epidural steroid injection (MIL-CESI) in terms of pain relief and functional improvement in patients with unilateral upper extremity radicular pain.Methods: This ...
Read More
Objective: To compare parasagittal interlaminar cervical epidural steroid injection (PSIL-CESI) and the classic midline interlaminar cervical epidural steroid injection (MIL-CESI) in terms of pain relief and functional improvement in patients with unilateral upper extremity radicular pain.Methods: This was a randomized clinical trial being conducted in a single pain center in Tehran. Twenty-six patients were allocated into two groups of 13, undergoing either PSIL-CESI or MIL-CESI. After confirmation of radiocontrast spread in the epidural space by fluoroscopic guidance, dexamethasone 8 mg and bupivacaine 0.125% in a volume of 5 ml were delivered to the epidural space. Evaluation of functional state and pain intensity before and 1 month after the procedure was accomplished using the neck disability index (NDI) and the numeric rating scale (NRS) respectively.Results: Demographic and baseline characteristics of the cases showed no significant statistical difference. Improvements in the NDI and the NRS were observed in both groups; meanwhile, improvements were more pronounced in the PSIL-CESI group as compared to the MIL-CESI group (P<0.001). With the PSIL approach the ventral spread of radiocontrast was significantly higher (38%) than with the MIL approach (0.7%) (P<0.001). All patients in PSIL group showed radiocontrast spread ipsilateral to the painful side and all patients in the MIL group showed a midline distribution of radiocontrast.Conclusion: PSIL-CESI provides superior pain relief and improvement of functional disability in patients with unilateral upper extremity radicular pain in comparison to the classic MIL-CESI.Clinical trial registry: IRCT20180524039816N1
Masoud Hashemi; Payman Dadkhah; Mehrdad Taheri; Mahshid Ghasemi; Ali Hosseinpour
Volume 7, Issue 2 , April 2019, , Pages 144-149
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of transforaminal lumbar epidural steroid injections (TFESI) in patients with unilateral radiculopathy due to lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion regarding pain intensity, functional disability, current opioid intake and patients’ satisfaction.Methods: ...
Read More
Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of transforaminal lumbar epidural steroid injections (TFESI) in patients with unilateral radiculopathy due to lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion regarding pain intensity, functional disability, current opioid intake and patients’ satisfaction.Methods: The study is conducted in a pain management center (Tehran, Iran), during 2018. Inclusion criteria were age ≥18 years, radiculopathy for more than 6 months due to imagine-proved lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion and no response to conservative treatments. Exclusion criteria were spinal canal stenosis, lumbar surgery, and inability to communicate in Persian language. During a phone call interview, cases were instructed to rate their pain intensity according to the visual analogue scale (VAS), functional ability, satisfaction according to the patient satisfaction score (PSQ) and report current opioid use and additional injection and/or surgery.Results: Forty-three (89.5%) of the 48 subjects were reachable for study with mean age of 59.14 years and 16 subjects were men (37.2 %). Mean VAS after intervention was 4.67 and before the intervention was 6.91 (p=0.002). Mean functional disability before intervention was 47.23 and after intervention was 37 (p<0.001). Mean patient satisfaction score was 3.07 while 18 cases reported a PSQ level ≥4. 10 cases reported using opioid for analgesia, 23 cases reported receiving additional TFESIs and 11 reported having undergone lumbar surgery.Conclusion: Lumbar Epidural steroid injection is an effective non-surgical treatment option with regard to pain relief and improvement in functional ability with an average patients’ satisfaction during 2 years follow up although nearly 25% of patients may need additional injections and half of the patients may finally proceed to surgery.
Masoud Hashemi; Payman Dadkhah; Mehrdad Taheri; Sirous Momenzadeh; Tahereh Parsa; Behnam Hosseini; Mohammadreza Abbasian
Volume 7, Issue 2 , April 2019, , Pages 150-155
Abstract
Objective: To compare the efficacy of parasagittal interlaminar (PIL) and midline interlaminar (MIL) approaches for epidural block in patients with lower limb orthopedic surgery. Methods: This double-blind randomized clinical trial was performed on 40 patients undergoing tibial shaft fracture surgery. ...
Read More
Objective: To compare the efficacy of parasagittal interlaminar (PIL) and midline interlaminar (MIL) approaches for epidural block in patients with lower limb orthopedic surgery. Methods: This double-blind randomized clinical trial was performed on 40 patients undergoing tibial shaft fracture surgery. In PIL group, an 18-gauge, 3.5 inch, Tuohy needle was placed at the level of L2-3 or L3-4 intervertebral spaces and pushed forward in a posteroanterior (PA) direction vertical to the body surface. After determining the most lateral place for needle arrival in an anteroposterior (AP) view, needle was pushed forward into the epidural space. For the MIL group, needle was pushed forward from the midline interspinous space with the same method. After confirmation of needle position, 1 mL of contrast was injected to confirm the epidural space distribution and then 15 ml lidocaine 2% was injected. The sensory and motor block level, onset, duration, heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and arterial oxygen saturation (SPO2), and success rate were recorded.Results: Mean patients’ baseline characteristics showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. (p>0.05). Outcome measures were statistically different and significantly higher in PIL group (p-values for sensory block level
