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Regional Anesthesia and Pain Management: Mastering Clinical Art for Optimal Patient Satisfaction

A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Anesthesiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 June 2026 | Viewed by 4799

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Min Suk Chae

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 03312, Republic of Korea
Interests: regional anesthesia; pain management; ultrasound-guided nerve blocks; fascial plane blocks; postoperative analgesia; chronic pain interventions; patient satisfaction; multimodal analgesia; opioid-sparing strategies; non-opioid analgesics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Regional anesthesia has firmly established itself as an integral element of modern pain management strategies, demonstrating considerable clinical efficacy through enhanced patient comfort, significant reductions in opioid reliance, and notable improvements in postoperative outcomes and recovery processes. Despite these advancements, ongoing clinical and technical challenges persist, particularly regarding the optimization of procedural techniques, the accuracy of ultrasound-guided interventions, the long-term efficacy of regional anesthetics, and the assessment and management of associated complications.

This Special Issue, entitled "Regional Anesthesia and Pain Management: Mastering Clinical Art for Optimal Patient Satisfaction", is designed to gather high-quality original research articles and detailed systematic reviews that directly address these pivotal concerns. We particularly encourage submissions exploring advanced ultrasound-guided nerve blocks, innovative fascial plane techniques, postoperative and chronic pain management interventions, comprehensive multimodal analgesia protocols, strategies for opioid minimization, and emerging applications of non-opioid analgesics.

By integrating current evidence-based practices, presenting pioneering methodologies, and highlighting evolving clinical paradigms, this Issue aims to enrich clinical knowledge, facilitate informed professional discussion, and inspire continuous improvement in patient-centered pain management outcomes.

We warmly welcome your expert contributions to this critically important field.

Dr. Min Suk Chae
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Clinical Medicine is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • regional anesthesia
  • pain management
  • ultrasound-guided nerve blocks
  • fascial plane blocks
  • multimodal analgesia
  • postoperative analgesia
  • chronic pain management
  • opioid-sparing strategies
  • non-opioid analgesics
  • patient satisfaction
  • anesthesia techniques
  • perioperative care
  • pain interventions
  • nerve block techniques
  • clinical outcomes

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 596 KB  
Article
Modified Thoracolumbar Interfascial Plane Versus Erector Spinae Plane Block for Postoperative Analgesia After Lumbar Discectomy: A Prospective Observational Comparative Study
by Fatma Acil, Andaç Dedeoğlu, Okan Andıç, Meral Erdal Erbatur, Hülya Tosun Söner, Abdurrahman Çetin, Osman Uzundere, Cem Kıvılcım Kaçar and Erhan Gökçek
J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(6), 2214; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15062214 - 14 Mar 2026
Viewed by 484
Abstract
Background: Effective pain control after lumbar disc surgery is a key determinant of recovery. Therefore, we aimed to compare the effects of modified thoracolumbar interfascial plane block (M-TLIP) and erector spinae plane block (ESP) on postoperative pain control and opioid consumption. Methods: This [...] Read more.
Background: Effective pain control after lumbar disc surgery is a key determinant of recovery. Therefore, we aimed to compare the effects of modified thoracolumbar interfascial plane block (M-TLIP) and erector spinae plane block (ESP) on postoperative pain control and opioid consumption. Methods: This prospective observational comparative cohort study included 96 patients aged 18–70 years with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I–III who underwent elective single-level lumbar discectomy. Patients received either an M-TLIP block (Group M-TLIP, n = 49) or an ESP block (Group ESP, n = 47). Postoperative pain was assessed using visual analog scale (VAS) scores at 1, 2, 4, 8, and 24 h as the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included opioid consumption, postoperative nausea and vomiting, Riker’s Agitation Sedation Scale (RSAS) scores, and patient satisfaction. Repeated pain measurements were analyzed using a linear mixed-effects model. Results: Postoperative pain scores were lower in the M-TLIP group compared with the ESP group, particularly during the early postoperative period. Linear mixed-effects modeling demonstrated a significant main effect of group and time, with the analgesic advantage of M-TLIP being most pronounced in the early postoperative hours and diminishing by 24 h. Total tramadol consumption within the first 24 h was significantly lower in the M-TLIP group (p = 0.039). Postoperative agitation, nausea and vomiting, and patient satisfaction scores were comparable between groups. Conclusions: These findings suggest that M-TLIP block may represent a clinically useful alternative to ESP block for postoperative analgesia in lumbar discectomy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regional Anesthesia and Pain Management: Mastering Clinical Art for Optimal Patient Satisfaction)
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17 pages, 781 KB  
Article
Reduced Ropivacaine Volume with Perineural Dexamethasone in PENG Block for Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Randomized Controlled Trial
by Tomasz Reysner, Agnieszka Neumann-Podczaska, Pawel Pietraszek, Aleksander Mularski, Grzegorz Kowalski, Przemyslaw Daroszewski and Malgorzata Reysner
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(24), 8722; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14248722 - 9 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 861
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block is increasingly used as part of multimodal analgesia for total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, standard high-volume local anesthetic regimens may impair motor function. The addition of perineural dexamethasone could allow for volume reduction while maintaining [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block is increasingly used as part of multimodal analgesia for total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, standard high-volume local anesthetic regimens may impair motor function. The addition of perineural dexamethasone could allow for volume reduction while maintaining analgesic efficacy and minimizing quadriceps weakness. This study evaluated whether adding dexamethasone to a low-volume PENG block prolongs analgesia, reduces opioid consumption, maintains pain control, and preserves motor function compared to a standard-volume PENG block. Materials and Methods: In this randomized controlled trial (NCT06470334), 60 adult patients undergoing THA via the direct superior approach received either a standard-volume PENG block with 20 mL of 0.2% ropivacaine (PENG group) or a low-volume block with 10 mL of 0.2% ropivacaine plus 4 mg of perineural dexamethasone (PENG + DEX group). The primary outcome was time to first rescue opioid. Secondary outcomes included total 48-h opioid consumption (oral morphine equivalents), pain scores (numeric rating scale, NRS) at rest and during movement, and quadriceps muscle strength at predefined postoperative intervals. Results: The PENG + DEX group demonstrated a significantly longer time to first opioid administration (15.0 ± 1.5 h vs. 9.1 ± 1.7 h; p < 0.0001) and reduced total opioid consumption within 48 h (2.3 ± 3.1 mEQ vs. 5.0 ± 4.4 mEQ; p = 0.0120). Pain scores were similar at 4 h but significantly lower in the PENG + DEX group at 8, 12, and 24 h postoperatively (all p < 0.01). Quadriceps strength was fully preserved in both groups at all assessed timepoints (p > 0.9999). Conclusions: The addition of perineural dexamethasone to a low-volume PENG block provides longer-lasting analgesia and reduces opioid requirements without compromising pain control or quadriceps function. This approach may improve the safety and efficacy of regional anesthesia in THA. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regional Anesthesia and Pain Management: Mastering Clinical Art for Optimal Patient Satisfaction)
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Review

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28 pages, 1574 KB  
Review
Hydrogel-Based Delivery Systems for Non-Opioid Analgesics: Advances, Challenges, and Clinical Prospects
by Kyung Kwan Lee, Wonwoo Jeong and Minsuk Chae
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(21), 7768; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14217768 - 1 Nov 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2693
Abstract
This review focuses on hydrogel-based systems specifically designed for non-opioid analgesics, aiming to improve efficacy, safety, and translational applicability. The opioid crisis has intensified the need for safer and more effective alternatives in pain management. Non-opioid analgesics including NSAIDs, acetaminophen, gabapentinoids, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, [...] Read more.
This review focuses on hydrogel-based systems specifically designed for non-opioid analgesics, aiming to improve efficacy, safety, and translational applicability. The opioid crisis has intensified the need for safer and more effective alternatives in pain management. Non-opioid analgesics including NSAIDs, acetaminophen, gabapentinoids, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, NMDA receptor antagonists, topical agents, and cannabinoids offer promising options but are limited by rapid clearance, short half-lives, and off-target effects. Hydrogel-based drug delivery systems present a novel solution by enabling controlled, localized, and sustained release of analgesics, thus improving therapeutic efficacy and minimizing systemic toxicity. Advances in stimulus-responsive, self-healing, mechanically robust, and hybrid or nanocomposite hydrogels have broadened their biomedical applications and clinical relevance. This narrative review summarizes key hydrogel technologies and their integration with non-opioid analgesic agents. We explore encapsulation strategies, drug release mechanisms, and emerging clinical data, while also addressing critical challenges such as biocompatibility, mechanical durability, and translational scalability. Interdisciplinary collaboration between material scientists, clinicians, and regulatory experts is essential to advance hydrogel-based therapies from bench to bedside. Overall, hydrogel platforms hold transformative potential in optimizing non-opioid analgesic delivery and redefining the future of pain management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regional Anesthesia and Pain Management: Mastering Clinical Art for Optimal Patient Satisfaction)
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