Regional Anesthesia in ERAS

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ERAS & RA Fundamentals - Synergistic Duo

  • ERAS (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery):
    • A multimodal, multidisciplinary, evidence-based pathway.
    • Core Goals: Minimize surgical stress, accelerate physiological recovery, reduce LOS & complications.
  • RA (Regional Anesthesia) in ERAS:
    • A cornerstone for achieving ERAS objectives.
    • Provides: Superior, targeted analgesia; blunts neuroendocrine stress response.
    • Key Benefits:
      • Significant opioid-sparing effect (↓ PONV, sedation, ileus, respiratory depression).
      • Facilitates early mobilization and return of gut function.
  • Synergy: RA is pivotal, enabling multiple ERAS elements for improved patient outcomes.

    ⭐ Thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) is a cornerstone RA technique in ERAS for major abdominal/thoracic surgery, significantly improving pain control and hastening gut recovery. PURSUE Study ERAS Elements: Regional Anesthesia & Opioid Use

RA Modalities in ERAS - The Anesthetist's Toolkit

  • Neuraxial Anesthesia: Cornerstone for major surgeries.
    • Epidural (Thoracic/Lumbar): Catheters for continuous analgesia. ↓opioids, ↓ileus.
    • Spinal: Single-shot or continuous. Rapid, dense block.
  • Peripheral Nerve Blocks (PNBs): Targeted, opioid-sparing; Ultrasound-Guided (USG) standard.
    • Upper Limb: Interscalene, Supraclavicular.
    • Lower Limb: Femoral, Sciatic, Adductor Canal Block (ACB).
    • Truncal: Paravertebral, Intercostal.
  • Fascial Plane Blocks (FPBs): USG-guided, volume-dependent spread.
    • TAP: Anterior abdominal wall.
    • QL (Quadratus Lumborum): Abdominal analgesia (somatic/visceral).
    • ESP (Erector Spinae Plane): Thoracic/abdominal wall.
    • PECS/Serratus Anterior: Chest wall.
  • Local Infiltration Analgesia (LIA): Surgeon-administered; common in arthroplasty. Ultrasound-guided interscalene block technique

⭐ Adductor canal block post-Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) offers analgesia comparable to femoral nerve block but with significantly better quadriceps strength preservation, crucial for early mobilization in ERAS.

RA Benefits & Pathways - Speedy Recovery Catalysts

  • Core RA Benefits for ERAS:
    • Opioid Sparing: ↓ opioid-related side effects (e.g., sedation, respiratory depression, PONV, pruritus).
    • Superior Postoperative Analgesia: Lower pain scores, ↑ patient comfort & satisfaction.
    • Facilitates Early Mobilization: Key for VTE prevention, faster overall recovery.
    • Reduced Postoperative Nausea & Vomiting (PONV): Both direct effect & secondary to opioid reduction.
    • Accelerated Return of Bowel Function: ↓ incidence/duration of postoperative ileus.
    • Attenuation of Surgical Stress Response: Modulates neuroendocrine changes.
    • Potential for ↓ hospital Length Of Stay (LOS) & costs.
  • RA in Specific ERAS Pathways:
    • Colorectal Surgery: Thoracic Epidural Analgesia (TEA) (e.g., T6-T10), Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) blocks, Quadratus Lumborum (QL) blocks.
    • Orthopedic Surgery (TKR/THR): Spinal anesthesia, Epidural, Peripheral Nerve Blocks (PNBs) like femoral, adductor canal, sciatic, iPACK (infiltration between popliteal artery and capsule of knee).
    • Thoracic/Cardiac Surgery: Paravertebral Blocks (PVB), Erector Spinae Plane (ESP) blocks, intercostal nerve blocks.

⭐ Thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) is a cornerstone in many major abdominal surgery ERAS protocols, offering profound analgesia and sympathetic blockade, which aids early gut recovery and mobilization.

RA Selection & Safety - Prudent Pain Protocol

  • Goal: Optimize analgesia, ↓opioids, facilitate recovery.
  • Selection Criteria:
    • Patient: Co-morbidities (esp. coagulopathy), consent.
    • Surgery: Type, duration, anticipated pain level.
    • Technique: Epidural, PNBs (e.g., TAP, ESP, QLB), spinal.
  • Safety First:
    • Strict asepsis.
    • Ultrasound guidance preferred for PNBs.
    • Monitor for LAST, nerve injury, hematoma.
    • ⚠️ Adherence to anticoagulation guidelines (ASRA) is paramount.

⭐ For neuraxial techniques, specific timing for anticoagulant interruption & resumption is crucial. E.g., LMWH prophylactic dose: wait 10-12 hours before block, restart 4 hours post-catheter removal.

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • Reduces opioid consumption and related side effects (nausea, vomiting, ileus).
  • Improves postoperative pain control, facilitating early mobilization.
  • Common techniques: epidural analgesia, spinal anesthesia, peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs).
  • Thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) is gold standard for major abdominal/thoracic surgery.
  • PNBs (e.g., TAP blocks, femoral nerve blocks) are crucial for orthopedic and abdominal surgeries.
  • Catheter-based techniques allow prolonged analgesia.
  • Contributes to reduced hospital stay and improved patient satisfaction.

Practice Questions: Regional Anesthesia in ERAS

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Contraindication to neuraxial block is ?

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Flashcards: Regional Anesthesia in ERAS

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_____ lowers IOP to levels lower than those achieved with other agents.

TAP TO REVEAL ANSWER

_____ lowers IOP to levels lower than those achieved with other agents.

Sevoflurane (general anesthetic)

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