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.

Inhalt
Pathophysiology of pain and genetic advance.- 1 Integrated axon-synapse unit in the central nervous system.- 2 Neurochemical memory in pain circuits.- 3 Withdrawal reflex: phylosophy and physiology.- 4 Pathophysiology of pain modulation.- 5 Role of the central nervous system in processing pain stimuli and perspectives of pharmacological intervention.- 6 Pain and the genome.- Pharmacology.- 7 Clinical pharmacology of local anaesthetic agents.- 8 Drug interactions and systemic toxicity.- 9 Placental transfer of pharmacological agents.- 10 Clinical perspectives of cholecystokinin antagonists in pain management.- 11 Clinical pharmacology of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: novel acquisitions.- 12 Opioids.- 13 Psychoactive drugs and pain.- Regional techniques.- 14 Trigeminal neuralgia and atypical facial pain: current concepts on etiopathogenesis and diagnosis.- 15 Trigeminal nerve block and surgery.- 16 Cervical plexus block.- 17 Neuroaxial analgesia: epidural and spinal drugs.- 18 Combined spinal epidural anaesthesia.- 19 Imaging for regional block: clinical applications of sympathetic blockade in pain therapy.- 20 Postoperative advantages of regional anaesthesia.- Organization of pain service.- 21 Organization of acute pain services.- Regional anaesthesia in specialties.- 22 Regional analgesia and anaesthesia in obstetrics.- 23 Regional anaesthetic techniques in orthopaedics.- Guidelines of acute and chronic pain management.- 24 Guidelines on acute postoperative pain management.- 25 Guidelines on chronic pain management.- 26 Terminal cancer illness: strategies and management.- Cost-effectiveness of loco-regional anaesthesia.- 27 Cost effectiveness ofanaesthesia/analgesia.- Main symbols.