title: Feasibility of ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve block catheters for pain control on pediatric medical missions in developing countries.
abstract: Continuous peripheral nerve blocks (CPNB) are effective for postoperative pain management in children in the hospital and at home. CPNB techniques are particularly advantageous when compared with systemic or oral opioids on medical missions to unfamiliar environments with minimal monitoring capacity. In addition, ultrasound-guidance facilitates the placement of perineural catheters in anesthetized children even in the absence of commercially packaged regional anesthesia equipment. We present a series of successful cases employing ultrasound-guided CPNB for postoperative analgesia on medical missions and discuss the impact of this technology on present and future patients in underserved countries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, University of California, San Diego Medical Center, San Diego, CA, USA. ermariano@ucsd.edu
authors.forename: Edward R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Mariano
authors.forename: Brian M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Ilfeld
authors.forename: Gloria S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Hector F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Nicodemus
authors.forename: Santhanam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suresh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000577:Amides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002404:Catheterization; D002648:Child; D003906:Developing Countries; D004484:Ecuador; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008493:Medical Missions; D008619:Mepivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects; D010679:Philippines; D000077212:Ropivacaine; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000077212:Ropivacaine; D008619:Mepivacaine; D002045:Bupivacaine