Complications in Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine

Book excerpt: 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.