Iliopsoas plane block (IPB), as an emerging regional anesthesia technique, shows promising applications in analgesia for hip surgery. This review aims to elucidate the anatomical basis and mechanism of action of IPB, systematically assess its clinical efficacy, procedural techniques, and recent research progress in hip surgery, analyze its advantages and disadvantages compared to traditional regional blocking techniques, and explore its role in multimodal analgesic regimens and future development directions. The authors systematically searched the PubMed and Web of Science databases for all published literature related to IPB from its inception until September 2025. Recent studies indicate that IPB, by injecting local anesthetics in the iliopsoas plane, can selectively block the sensory branches of the femoral nerve supplying the hip joint capsule, providing effective analgesia while significantly preserving motor function. Compared to traditional femoral nerve block, IPB reduces the incidence of quadriceps weakness and lowers the risk of falls in patients, particularly in elderly individuals undergoing hip surgery. The application of ultrasound guidance further enhances the accuracy and safety of IPB. However, high-quality clinical evidence supporting IPB is still limited, and its clinical effectiveness remains controversial. Further exploration of its mechanisms of action, optimal techniques, and ideal injection doses is needed, along with more basic research and clinical trials. IPB is a safe and effective postoperative analgesic technique for hip surgery. The motor function preservation characteristics of IPB align with enhanced recovery after surgery principles, making it a promising candidate to become the preferred analgesic technique for perioperative pain management in hip surgery. Future research requires more standardized, homogeneous controlled studies and exploration of its potential in chronic pain management.

Adequate postoperative pain management is an important part of perioperative care in terms of patient comfort and faster recovery. Unfortunately, pediatric patients frequently experience high levels of postoperative pain, also at home after outpatient surgery. Assessment and management of pain could be achieved through a smartphone application. However, it is uncertain whether children and their caregivers see benefit in such an application. This prospective cohort study included children, aged one month to 18 years, who required ENT, urological or orthopedic surgery in ambulatory care over a 12-week period. Participants received a questionnaire, consisting of smartphone application-related questions and questions about pain in the week following surgery. One week after the operation, the participants were called to submit their responses to this questionnaire. Of 244 eligible participants, 129 were included of which 107 remained for analysis. More than 80% of participants indicated that a smartphone application could help them estimate and treat their child's postoperative pain at home. Regarding potential components, the ability to contact the hospital seemed to be most important. Regarding the incidence of pain, at day 1, 65.4% of all patients had moderate to severe pain. By the end of the first week, this percentage is still 15.9%. It seems necessary to pay more attention to the assessment and treatment of postoperative pain in children. A smartphone application may help managing this common problem after outpatient surgery. Future studies should focus on developing a smartphone application tailored to the need of young patients and their caregivers, and evaluating the outcomes for improving pain management.

Sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction (SIMD) is a common and reversible complication of septic shock that is often underdiagnosed due to the limitations of conventional echocardiography. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) derived from speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) may provide a more sensitive and load-independent marker of early myocardial dysfunction. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic and prognostic value of GLS in patients with septic shock in the ICU. This systematic review followed the PRISMA guideline and published on PROSPERO (CRD420251034407). Four databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane) were searched without time or language restrictions (Sept-Oct 2024). Eligible studies included adults with sepsis or septic shock studied with GLS. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Of 24 studies, five studies were included (416 patients). GLS was significantly reduced in patients with septic shock, even with preserved LVEF. A GLS threshold between -13% and -15% predicted mortality and correlated with biomarkers (troponin I, NT-proBNP, lactate). Compared to LVEF, GLS showed higher sensitivity in detecting subclinical dysfunction and in monitoring myocardial recovery. GLS in a single view (apical four-chamber) was comparable to full-view assessment, suggesting feasibility at the bedside. Despite the limited number and observational nature of the available studies, GLS appears to be a promising tool for the early detection and monitoring of myocardial dysfunction in septic shock. Its integration into ICU practice could improve risk stratification and individualized treatment. Further multicenter studies are needed to standardize the cut-offs and confirm the clinical benefit.