Background: Interscalene brachial plexus block (ISBPB) is an effective nerve block for shoulder surgery. However, a 100% incidence of phrenic nerve palsy limits the application of ISBPB for patients with limited pulmonary reserve. We examined the incidence of phrenic nerve palsy with a low-volume ISBPB compared with a standard-volume technique both guided by ultrasound.
Methods: Forty patients undergoing shoulder surgery were randomized to receive an ultrasound-guided ISBPB of either 5 or 20 ml ropivacaine 0.5%. General anaesthesia was standardized. Both groups were assessed for respiratory function by sonographic diaphragmatic assessment and spirometry before and after receiving ISBPB, and after surgery. Motor and sensory block, pain, sleep quality, and analgesic consumption were additional outcomes. Statistical comparison of continuous variables was analysed using one-way analysis of variance and Student's t-test. Non-continuous variables were analysed using chi(2) tests. Statistical significance was assumed at P<0.05.
Results: The incidence of diaphragmatic paralysis was significantly lower in the low-volume group compared with the standard-volume group (45% vs 100%). Reduction in forced expiratory volume in 1 s, forced vital capacity, and peak expiratory flow at 30 min after the block was also significantly less in the low-volume group. In addition, there was a significantly greater decrease in postoperative oxygen saturation in the standard-volume group (-5.85 vs -1.50, P=0.004) after surgery. There were no significant differences in pain scores, sleep quality, and total morphine consumption up to 24 h after surgery.
Conclusions: The use of low-volume ultrasound-guided ISBPB is associated with fewer respiratory and other complications with no change in postoperative analgesia compared with the standard-volume technique.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/bja/aen229 | DOI Listing |
Br J Anaesth
January 2025
Department of Anaesthesia, University Hospital of Lausanne and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland. Electronic address:
Background: We have previously demonstrated that an extrafascial injection of 20 ml of local anaesthetic for interscalene brachial plexus block (ISB) reduces the rate of hemidiaphragmatic paralysis by 70% compared with an intrafascial injection, with similar efficacy. In this double-blind trial, we tested the hypothesis that a local anaesthetic volume of 10 ml injected extrafascially would reduce the rate of hemidiaphragmatic paralysis vs a volume of 20 ml, while providing similar analgesia.
Methods: Sixty ASA physical status 1-3 patients scheduled for elective shoulder surgery under general anaesthesia were randomised to receive ultrasound-guided extrafascial ISB using ropivacaine 0.
Diagnostics (Basel)
December 2024
PhysiUZerapy: Health Sciences Research Group, University of Zaragoza, Calle Domingo Miral S/N, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.
Background: When performing the Upper Limb Neurodynamic Test 1 (ULNT1), the order of joint movement can be varied to place more stress onto certain nerve segments. However, the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are still unclear. This study aimed to analyze the differences in the stiffness of the median nerve (MN) and the brachial plexus (BP) using ultrasound shear wave elastography during three sequences of the ULNT1: standard (ULNT1-STD), distal-to-proximal (ULNT1-DIST), and proximal-to-distal (ULNT1-PROX).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFReg Anesth Pain Med
December 2024
Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Therapy, Saarland University Hospital and Saarland University Faculty of Medicine, Homburg, Germany.
Introduction: Regional anesthesia is frequently used for upper limb surgeries and postoperative pain control. Different approaches to brachial plexus blocks are similarly effective but may differ in the frequency and severity of iatrogenesis. We, therefore, examined large-scale registry data to explore the risks of typical complications among different brachial plexus block sites for regional anesthesia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurr Pain Headache Rep
December 2024
Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Purpose Of Review: Peripheral nerve blocks are performed using local anesthetics that are commonly performed prior to surgery to either be the sole anesthetic and/or for postoperative pain management. Interscalene blocks are a specific type of nerve block that targets the superior and middle trunks of the brachial plexus inhibiting transmission of pain signals from the upper extremities to the central nervous system making them useful in mitigating pain following surgeries involving the shoulder, upper arm, and elbow.
Recent Findings: Previously, interscalene blocks were performed with a nerve stimulator, which is an instrument designed to generate a twitch in surrounding muscles to verify the anesthetic block was placed in the correct location.
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