Local-regional anesthesia and pain therapy represent two areas of common interest for all physicians. A thorough preparation in functional anatomy and general pharmacology, including familiarity with local anesthetics and analgesics, is considered fundamental background for further study or clinical application of such techniques. Knowledge of the mechanisms of action, efficacies and side effects of the relevant drugs is essential, as is appreciation of possible drug interactions to evaluate eventual toxic effects. Local-regional anesthesia and pain management are being increasing used in diverse medical specialties, including those requiring manual dexterity. In contemporary medicine correct evaluation of the medical outcome becomes essential, especially in relation to the cost-benefit balance, not only in terms of the resources consumed, also and more importantly for the quality of life of the patient.

Comprehensive reference that covers the practice of regional anesthesia in its entirety, providing practitioners and students with both the physiologic principles and specific, state-of-the-art patient-management protocols and techniques. It provides algorithms for managing or avoiding a wide range of common clinical dilemmas or complications and time-saving tools such as intravenous-to-oral opioid conversion tables and PCA setup guides as well as no-nonsense selection of nerve block techniques and advice on their strengths and pitfalls. Helps the practitioner to make wise choices about anesthetics, dosing intervals, equipment, and perioperative management of patients receiving single-injection or continuous nerve blocks or spinal or epidural anesthesia. It discusses how to successfully manage patients with suspected epidural hematoma or neurologic injuries - and much more.

This short text addresses complications of regional anesthesia and pain medicine. Each chapter is written by an expert in the area and follows a strict format: Definition of the complication, Scope of the problem, Pathophysiology or proposed mechanism of causation, Risk factors, Diagnostic evaluation, Prevention, Treatment and rehabilitation, Summary. Emphasis in each chapter is placed around what levels of evidence the recommendations in the chapter carry. The complications covered in regional anesthesia include complications in neuraxis and peripheral nerve blocks. There is also a section on complications associated with unintended local anesthetic destinations. The complications in pain medicine include complications of acute pain management, of sympathetic blocks, of neuraxis approaches and device placement. The first edition was published by Elsevier. They have returned copyright to Rathmell and Neal, who will turn it over to us. The audience includes anesthesiologists, pain medicine specialists, and neurologists.

This issue brings the anesthesiologist up to date on current essential topics in regional analgesia and acute pain management, including the latest state-of-the-art techniques and drugs. Subjects covered include prevention and treatment of local anesthetic systemic and neurotoxicity; complications of RA and pain management (medicolegal issues including anticoagulation, infection, etc.); assessment and treatment of post block neurologic injury (history, physical, investigations, EMG, NCS); new ultrasound guided techniques for peripheral nerve blocks and evidence based outcome review; emerging techniques and drugs for neuraxial and paravertebral blocks; local infiltration analgesia (for a variety of surgical procedures, wound infusions, infusion devices); continuous PNB in hospital and at home; recent advances in multimodal analgesia (new drugs & strategies, such as capsaisin, long acting opioid and local anesthetics); challenges in acute pain management (including the opioid tolerant patient, patients with comorbidities such as MS, DM and renal failure); economics and practice management issues associated with acute pain management; pediatric pain management; new concepts of acute pain management (including strategies to prevent chronic pain, opioid induced hyperalgesia, and more).

This unique text details the use of regional anesthesia for the management of all aspects of pain. It demonstrates the various blocks used, with lavish and classic illustrations to illuminate the text describing each procedure. It also covers the latest aspects of pain management, with recent advances and breakthroughs reported and discussed as to their relative usefulness and efficacy in clinical practice. Classic contributions are balanced with reports of new technologic and research developments, providing the best overview of regional anesthesia and pain management available today.