Table 7 Relationship of analyzed topics with earlier developments

Thoracic paravertebral block to provide analgesia in breast surgery

Paravertebral blocks were first performed in 1905 [48].Their use for post-thoracotomy and traumatic chest pain, and also for permanent neurolytic block was described as early as 1962. Resurgence of interest in paravertebral blocks was based initially on their favorable reappraisal in 1979 by Eason and Wyatt [49], but subsequently on the relative hemodynamic stability compared to the dominant neuraxial block techniques.

Perineural dexamethasone as an analgesic adjunct for peripheral nerve block

It was recently demonstrated that systemic dexamethasone may be equivalent to perineural dexamethasone in prolonging the analgesic duration of local anesthetic nerve blockade, and a perineural mechanism of its action provides only a modest and inconsistent supplementation to this prolongation [28, 29]. The effect of systemic glucocorticoids on postoperative analgesia has long been known. These effects cannot be explained only by their anti-inflammatory actions; their analgesic efficacy may be independent of their anti-inflammatory actions [52].

Transversus abdominis plane block to provide analgesia in abdominal surgery

This block is a novel analgesic technique designed to block abdominal wall neural afferents via bilateral injections in the lumbar triangles of Petit. It is relatively simple and used in patients undergoing abdominal surgery [32]. It was reintroduced and gained significant popularity in its current versions with ubiquitous use of ultrasound guidance.

Ultrasound guidance for peripheral nerve blocks

Ultrasound guidance for peripheral nerve blocks was a natural continuation of the development of interventional and neural ultrasonography [38,39,40]. The use of Doppler ultrasound to locate the subclavian artery for a brachial plexus block [41], and ultrasound-guided neurolytic blocks [42] are closely associated with the initial use of ultrasound-guided anesthetic perineural injections for peripheral nerve blocks.

Femoral nerve block to provide analgesia in knee surgery

Was developed as an extension of femoral nerve block used in the knee injuries [55].

Effect of perioperative epidural analgesia combined with general anesthesia on mortality in cardiac surgery

The use of perioperative epidural anesthesia and analgesia versus general anesthesia with systemic opioids in mostly orthopedic surgery reduced overall mortality by approximately 30% [58]. This is the basis for expectations that perioperative thoracic epidural analgesia combined with general anesthesia can decrease mortality in cardiac and thoracic surgery.

Preemptive effect of epidural analgesics

The concept of preemptive analgesia was formulated by Crile at the beginning of the previous century on the basis of clinical observations [61]. The revival of this idea was associated with a series of animal studies started by Woolf (1983) [62, 63].

Spinal anesthesia is associated with lower intraoperative blood loss

Induced hypotension provided with vasodilator agents [66] was previously often used for reduction of blood loss during surgery. Hypotension induced by spinal anesthesia was one of the forms of hypotensive anesthesia, it became more common technique to reduce the intraoperative blood loss.