Surgical
Procedures
Pain Management
Dr. Dabb has always had a special interest in the management
of the pain that a patient experiences with surgery. Over the
past couple of years he has been on the forefront of "pre-emptive"
targeted anesthesia treatment.
Our Approach -
Patients are managed with "pre-emptive" anesthesia.
It has been clearly shown that if nerves are blocked prior to
the trauma of surgery, the entire stress response to surgery is
diminished significantly. After the patient is given sedation
or general anesthesia, the area is blocked with a long-acting
local anesthetic. The patient awakens with the pain sensations
blocked, in a much less stressful manner.
"Pre-emptive" anesthesia has allowed many procedures
that were previously "in-patient" to be performed in
a surgicenter environment as an out-patient. Abdominoplasty, breast
surgery (including mastectomy and immediate reconstruction),
and other large procedures that were classically admitted for
pain management may now be treated as an out-patient. This approach
also leads less pot-operative nausea and to a quicker recovery.
Research Results
- Dr. Dabb’s research in this approach has shown a statistically
significant three-fold reduction in narcotic requirement after
all major surgery. There have been no infections or other complications
related to the catheter.
Treatment - Pain Pump Treatment - In many cases, a Stryker
Pain
or On-Q pain pump (AskYourSurgeon.Com) will be utilized.
This unique system
utilizes a small catheter that has multiple perforations. It
is attached to tubing with a flow regulator and a reservoir-pump
that contains a long acting local. The wound is then bathed in
local anesthetic for at least 48 hours. In some cases, an antibiotic
is added to the pump to diminish the risk of infection.
Magnetic Resonance Therapy
- The surgery center also have magnetic resonance therapy available.
This FDA approved treatment modality utilizes a powerful magnetic
field to diminish both pain and swelling. It is frequently used
after facial surgery to diminish swelling.
