Young Sung Kim, Seung Inn Cho, Kuen Su Lee, Sang Sik Choi
{"title":"A rare case of metastatic brachial plexopathy as an initial presentation of recurrent breast cancer mimicking shoulder disorder and peripheral nerve entrapment - A case report.","authors":"Young Sung Kim, Seung Inn Cho, Kuen Su Lee, Sang Sik Choi","doi":"10.17085/apm.24155","DOIUrl":"10.17085/apm.24155","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The clinical manifestations of metastatic brachial plexopathy include pain, sensory loss, paresthesia, weakness, and reduced range of motion. These symptoms closely resemble those of shoulder disorders and peripheral nerve entrapment, which are commonly diagnosed in pain clinics, increasing the risk of misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis, particularly in patients with a history of malignancy.</p><p><strong>Case: </strong>A 51-year-old woman with a history of breast cancer in complete remission for 19 years presented with shoulder pain, arm weakness, and tingling in the fingers. Initial treatments for suspected cervical radiculopathy, shoulder disorders, and nerve entrapment were ineffective. Electromyography and nerve conduction studies revealed electrophysiological abnormalities consistent with left brachial plexopathy. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brachial plexus confirmed metastatic involvement. The patient is currently undergoing chemotherapy.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Clinicians must be vigilant of the possibility of malignancy in patients with a history of cancer and should pursue comprehensive diagnostic evaluations to exclude cancer recurrence.</p>","PeriodicalId":101360,"journal":{"name":"Anesthesia and pain medicine","volume":"20 3","pages":"246-251"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12340694/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144824460","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yumin Song, Dong-Hyun Go, Jong-Hoon Park, Cheesoon Yoon, Young Uk Kim
{"title":"Sustaining surgical services during the 2024 South Korean medical workforce crisis: a single-center experience.","authors":"Yumin Song, Dong-Hyun Go, Jong-Hoon Park, Cheesoon Yoon, Young Uk Kim","doi":"10.17085/apm.25281","DOIUrl":"10.17085/apm.25281","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":101360,"journal":{"name":"Anesthesia and pain medicine","volume":"20 3","pages":"285-286"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12340688/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144824472","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Comment on \"Unintended subdural anesthesia and subdural air bubbles after attempted epidural anesthesia in a patient undergoing cesarean section\".","authors":"Saecheol Oh, Jiwon Kang","doi":"10.17085/apm.25212","DOIUrl":"10.17085/apm.25212","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":101360,"journal":{"name":"Anesthesia and pain medicine","volume":"20 3","pages":"283-284"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12340686/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144824463","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
João M Cansian, Vítor S Bracht, Lisandra V Biolo, André P Schmidt
{"title":"Comparative effectiveness of bupivacaine and lidocaine-bupivacaine mixtures in brachial plexus block: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"João M Cansian, Vítor S Bracht, Lisandra V Biolo, André P Schmidt","doi":"10.17085/apm.25264","DOIUrl":"10.17085/apm.25264","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Combining lidocaine with bupivacaine in brachial plexus blocks seeks to blend rapid onset with extended duration; yet, clinical advantages are uncertain. This systematic review assesses their efficacy against bupivacaine alone in ultrasound-guided brachial plexus blocks.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases was conducted in May 2025. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing lidocaine-bupivacaine mixtures with bupivacaine alone in ultrasound-guided brachial plexus blocks were included. The primary outcome was sensory block onset time. Secondary outcomes included motor block onset time, sensory and motor block durations, and conversion to general anesthesia. Data were analyzed using a random-effects model, with heterogeneity assessed via I² statistics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 1,490 identified articles, 7 RCTs (358 patients) met the inclusion criteria. No significant difference was found in sensory block onset time (mean difference [MD] -1.81 min, 95% confidence interval [CI] -3.92 to 0.29; P = 0.09; I² = 98%) or motor block onset time (MD 0.02 min, 95% CI -2.34 to 2.39; P = 0.99; I² = 95%) between groups. The mixture reduced sensory (MD -172.88 min, 95% CI -215.18 to -130.59; P<0.00001; I² = 90%) and motor block durations (MD -212.13 min, 95% CI -374.99 to -49.28; P = 0.01; I² = 93%).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>No clinical benefit was observed from combining lidocaine with bupivacaine, as there was no improvement in block onset times and a reduction in block durations. Given the very low certainty of evidence, these findings should be interpreted with caution, and further high-quality RCTs are needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":101360,"journal":{"name":"Anesthesia and pain medicine","volume":"20 3","pages":"252-265"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12340692/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144824464","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Intraoperative blood pressure considerations in pediatric anesthesia.","authors":"Stephen J Gleich","doi":"10.17085/apm.25206","DOIUrl":"10.17085/apm.25206","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The measurement and interpretation of blood pressure in the perioperative period is a basic and fundamental practice for quality perioperative care. Children present unique considerations and challenges in the measurement and interpretation of blood pressure intraoperatively due to their varying anatomical size and developing physiology. This narrative review will investigate how hypotension is defined in anesthetized children, describe the challenges in noninvasive automated blood pressure monitoring, identify complications of intraoperative hypotension, and discuss how to individualize blood pressure management strategies in children under anesthesia.</p>","PeriodicalId":101360,"journal":{"name":"Anesthesia and pain medicine","volume":"20 3","pages":"213-221"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12340690/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144824470","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Beyond numbers: the beginning of a new possibility.","authors":"Min Kyoung Kim, Hyun Kang","doi":"10.17085/apm.25306","DOIUrl":"10.17085/apm.25306","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":101360,"journal":{"name":"Anesthesia and pain medicine","volume":"20 3","pages":"187-188"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12340687/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144824461","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"From revival to routine: electromyography-based neuromuscular monitoring in contemporary anesthesia practice.","authors":"Chang-Hoon Koo","doi":"10.17085/apm.25267","DOIUrl":"10.17085/apm.25267","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Electromyography (EMG)-based neuromuscular monitoring has emerged as a pivotal advancement in anesthesia, offering enhanced precision and reliability in assessing neuromuscular blockade. This review describes the physiological foundations of EMG, the methodologies for quantifying compound muscle action potential, and the comparative utility of EMG over traditional acceleromyography. Clinical applications across various muscle sites-specifically the adductor pollicis, first dorsal interosseous, and abductor digiti minimi-are explored, emphasizing inter-muscle variability and its implications for dosing of reversal agents. EMG-based monitoring is associated with reduced calibration time, improved stability against signal drift, and superior prevention of residual neuromuscular blockade. However, EMG monitoring presents unique challenges, including signal artifacts and device-specific variations in response thresholds. Recent comparative studies have demonstrated the importance of understanding device-specific characteristics to optimize clinical interpretations. Collectively, this evidence supports the use of EMG as a standard modality for perioperative neuromuscular management. Its accurate and reproducible signals, combined with broad clinical compatibility, present a compelling case for widespread adoption in routine anesthetic practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":101360,"journal":{"name":"Anesthesia and pain medicine","volume":"20 3","pages":"222-229"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12340696/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144824469","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cold temperatures, hot risks: perioperative hypothermia in geriatric patients - a narrative review.","authors":"Jae Hwa Yoo, Tae-Yun Sung, Chung-Sik Oh","doi":"10.17085/apm.25294","DOIUrl":"10.17085/apm.25294","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Aging adversely impacts thermoregulatory function, thereby increasing the risk of intraoperative hypothermia. Age-associated alterations-including diminished thermal perception, impaired autonomic responsiveness, reduced thermogenic capacity due to sarcopenia, and decreased cardiovascular adaptability, exacerbate the vulnerability to hypothermia. Concomitant comorbidities and polypharmacy further compromise thermal homeostasis in geriatric patients. Anesthetic agents compound this risk by lowering the thresholds for vasoconstriction and shivering and attenuating the magnitude of thermal responses. Consequently, geriatric populations are predisposed to significant perioperative temperature decline, particularly in cooler operating room (OR) environments. Intraoperative hypothermia is associated with an increased incidence of adverse outcomes, including increased cardiac events, surgical site infections, coagulopathy, protracted pharmacodynamic effects, extended recovery, and hospitalization duration. Although recent investigations suggest a diminished incidence of hypothermia due to minimally invasive surgical techniques and enhanced temperature management protocols, the intrinsic susceptibility of the aged thermoregulatory system persists. Effective temperature management requires precise core temperature monitoring and maintains appropriate OR temperatures. Furthermore, the implementation of multimodal warming strategies, including passive insulation, active warming modalities, warming of intravenous fluids, and prewarming before anesthesia induction, is critical. Therefore, a comprehensive and proactive thermal management approach is essential in mitigating hypothermia-related risks and optimizing perioperative outcomes in the geriatric patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":101360,"journal":{"name":"Anesthesia and pain medicine","volume":"20 3","pages":"189-199"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12340698/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144824462","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Faria Nisar, Nicolás Mario Mas D Alessandro, Jessica Suratkal, Kelly Lebak
{"title":"Navigating ambulatory perioperative care in patients with obesity and obstructive sleep apnea: a narrative review of ambulatory surgery outcomes and opioid safety.","authors":"Faria Nisar, Nicolás Mario Mas D Alessandro, Jessica Suratkal, Kelly Lebak","doi":"10.17085/apm.25221","DOIUrl":"10.17085/apm.25221","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Obesity and sleep apnea contribute to significant challenges in ambulatory surgical centers which include airway management and perioperative recovery. This narrative review was written following a literature review of articles available on ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Google Scholar from 2009 to 2024. This article highlights that obesity-related anatomical changes, such as increased neck circumference (NC) and reduced cervical extension, may complicate airway management. Successful ambulatory surgery for these high-risk patients depends on detailed attention throughout the perioperative period. Advanced airway techniques, along with continuous pulse oximetry and capnography, are vital for safe care. The use of continuous positive airway pressure or bilevel positive airway pressure in the perioperative phase is particularly beneficial in preventing respiratory complications. A systematic, multidisciplinary approach emphasizing preoperative screening, risk stratification, and standardized protocols is crucial for optimizing results.</p>","PeriodicalId":101360,"journal":{"name":"Anesthesia and pain medicine","volume":"20 3","pages":"200-212"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12340697/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144824471","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}