Regional anesthesia at home.
OBJECTIVE
To review the recently published peer-reviewed literature involving regional anesthesia and analgesia in patients at home.


RESULTS
The potential benefits and risks of regional anesthesia and analgesia at home are pertinent queries, and increased data regarding these topics are rapidly becoming available. Of particular interest is the use of continuous peripheral nerve blocks at home and their potential effect upon hospitalization duration and recovery profile.


CONCLUSIONS
Advantages of regional techniques include site-specific anesthesia and decreased postoperative opioid use. For shoulder surgeries, the interscalene block provides effective analgesia with minimal complications, whereas the impact and risks of intraarticular injections remain unclear. Perineural catheters are an analgesic option that offer improved pain relief among other benefits. They are now being used at home in both adult and pediatric populations.
Cheng
Gloria S
GS
Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USA.
Choy
Lynna P
LP
Ilfeld
Brian M
BM
D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods*; D000698:Analgesia / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D000765:Anesthesia, Conduction / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D018718:Home Infusion Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*