Background/Objectives: The rapid development of Large Language Models (LLMs) presents promising applications in healthcare, including patient education. In anesthesia, where patient anxiety is common due to misunderstandings and fears, LLMs could alleviate perioperative anxiety by providing accessible and accurate information. This study explores the potential of LLMs to enhance patient education on anesthetic and perioperative care, addressing time constraints faced by anesthetists. Methods: Three language models—ChatGPT-4, Claude 3, and Gemini—were evaluated using three common patient prompts. To minimize bias, incognito mode was used. Readability was assessed with the Flesch–Kincaid, Flesch Reading Ease, and Coleman–Liau indices. Response quality was rated for clarity, comprehension, and informativeness using the DISCERN score and Likert Scale. Results: Claude 3 required the highest reading level, delivering detailed responses but lacking citations. ChatGPT-4o offered accessible and concise answers but missed key details. Gemini provided reliable and comprehensive information and emphasized professional guidance but lacked citations. According to DISCERN and Likert scores, Gemini had the highest rank for reliability and patient friendliness. Conclusions: This study found that Gemini provided the most reliable information, followed by Claude 3, although no significant differences were observed. All models showed limitations in bias and lacked sufficient citations. While ChatGPT-4o was the most comprehensible, it lacked clinical depth. Further research is needed to balance simplicity with clinical accuracy, explore Artificial Intelligence (AI)–physician collaboration, and assess AI’s impact on patient safety and medical education.

Background/Objectives: Abdominoplasties are prevalent surgical procedures for improving lower abdominal contours, necessitating effective pain management. Insufficient management can increase opioid usage, dependency risks, and adverse effects. This review investigates various strategies in abdominoplasty pain management, aiming to reduce opioid dependence and improve patient care. Methods: A comprehensive systematic literature search (MEDLINE, Cochrane, PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE) was conducted, spanning from their inception to January 2024, using keywords such as ‘abdominoplasty’ and ‘postoperative pain management’. Included studies focused on nonopioid interventions in adults, encompassing various study designs. Non-English publications and those not meeting outcome criteria were excluded. Bias in studies was assessed using specific tools for randomized and non-randomized trials. Results: Thirty-five studies, published between 2005 and 2024, were included, involving 3636 patients with an average age of 41.8. Key findings highlighted the effectiveness of transversus abdominis plane blocks in reducing opioid use and pain. Pain pump catheters also showed promise in improving pain management and reducing opioid dependency. Local anesthetics demonstrated varying degrees of efficacy, while other alternatives like ketamine and NSAIDs successfully reduced postoperative pain and opioid requirements. The bias assessment of the RCTs revealed “low” and “some concerns” ratings, indicating a need for more detailed methodology reporting and management of missing data. The cohort studies generally attained “moderate” risks of bias, primarily due to confounding variables and outcome data reporting. Conclusions: Nonopioid analgesics show potential in postoperative pain management for abdominoplasties, but further research is needed to confirm their effectiveness and optimize patient care.

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a multifaceted condition characterized by chronic neuropathic pain, allodynia, and hyperalgesia. The incidence of CRPS postoperatively is alarmingly high, particularly following carpal tunnel surgeries, Dupuytren’s fasciectomy, and repairs of wrist and hand fractures, with recurrence rates soaring in individuals with a history of CRPS. Despite extensive research, the management of CRPS remains complicated, highlighting the urgent need for effective prevention strategies. This scoping review aimed to consolidate current evidence surrounding the efficacy of perioperative anesthetic techniques in preventing new-onset or recurrent CRPS, focusing on the application of various anesthetic interventions. Through a comprehensive literature search, eight articles were identified, discussing a spectrum of techniques, including wide awake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) and various regional blockade methods. This review revealed that the WALANT technique, with its simplicity and lower costs, exhibited promising results in preventing CRPS. Conversely, techniques involving intravenous regional and axillary plexus blocks showed variable efficacy, necessitating further investigation. The scarcity of high-quality evidence underscores the critical need for meticulously designed, large-scale randomized controlled trials to validate these findings and explore the potential of stellate ganglion block in the prevention of recurrent CRPS.