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Ultrasound-guided root/trunk (interscalene) block for hand and forearm anesthesia.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Historically, the anterolateral interscalene block--deposition of local anesthetic adjacent to the brachial plexus roots/trunks--has been used for surgical procedures involving the shoulder. The resulting block frequently failed to provide surgical anesthesia of the hand and forearm, even though the brachial plexus at this level included all of the axons of the upper-extremity terminal nerves. However, it remains unknown whether deposition of local anesthetic adjacent to the seventh cervical root or inferior trunk results in anesthesia of the hand and forearm. METHODS:Using ultrasound guidance and a needle-in-plane posterior approach, a Tuohy needle was positioned with the tip located between the deepest and next-deepest visualized brachial plexus root/trunk, followed by injection of mepivacaine (1.5%). Grip strength and the tolerance to cutaneous electrical current in 5 terminal nerve distributions were measured at baseline and then every 5 minutes following injection for a total of 30 minutes. The primary end point was the proportion of cases in which the interscalene nerve block resulted in a decrease in grip strength of at least 90% and hand and forearm anesthesia (tolerance to >50 mA of current in all 5 terminal nerve distributions) within 30 minutes. The primary hypothesis was that a single-injection interscalene brachial plexus block produces a similar rate of anesthesia of the hand and forearm to the published success rate of 95% for other brachial plexus block approaches. RESULTS:Of 55 subjects with blocks placed per protocol, all had a successful block of the shoulder as defined by inability to abduct at the shoulder joint. Thirty-three subjects had measurements at 30 minutes following local anesthetic deposition, and only 5 (15%) of these subjects had a surgical block of the hand and forearm (P < 0.0001; 95% confidence interval, 6%-33%). We therefore reject the hypothesis that the interscalene block as performed in this study provides equivalent anesthesia to the hand and forearm compared with other brachial plexus block techniques. Block failures of the hand and forearm were due to inadequate cutaneous anesthesia of the ulnar (n = 27; 82%), median (n = 26; 78%), or radial (n = 22; 67%) distributions; the medial forearm (n = 25; 76%); and/or the lateral forearm (n = 14; 42%). Failure to achieve at least a 90% reduction in grip strength occurred in 16 subjects (48%). CONCLUSIONS:This study did not find evidence to support the hypothesis that local anesthetic injected adjacent to the deepest brachial plexus roots/trunks reliably results in surgical anesthesia of the hand and forearm.

SUBMITTER: Madison SJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3631428 | biostudies-literature | 2013 May-Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Ultrasound-guided root/trunk (interscalene) block for hand and forearm anesthesia.

Madison Sarah J SJ Humsi Julie J Loland Vanessa J VJ Suresh Preetham J PJ Sandhu Navparkash S NS Bishop Michael J MJ Donohue Michael C MC Nie Dong D Ferguson Eliza J EJ Morgan Anya C AC Ilfeld Brian M BM

Regional anesthesia and pain medicine 20130501 3

<h4>Background</h4>Historically, the anterolateral interscalene block--deposition of local anesthetic adjacent to the brachial plexus roots/trunks--has been used for surgical procedures involving the shoulder. The resulting block frequently failed to provide surgical anesthesia of the hand and forearm, even though the brachial plexus at this level included all of the axons of the upper-extremity terminal nerves. However, it remains unknown whether deposition of local anesthetic adjacent to the s ...[more]

PMID: 23528646

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Project description:BackgroundUltrasound-guided regional anesthesia (UGRA) is increasingly used by emergency physicians to provide safe and effective pain relief for patients. However, one of the factors limiting its widespread use is the lack of realistic models available for learners to train on. There are currently no inexpensive nerve block models available that are injectable and that closely mimic nerves, fascial planes, muscles, and other landmarks. Our aim is to create inexpensive, injectable nerve block models that can be used as effective medical training tools for UGRA.MethodsBy using a lean cut of pork such as pork loin, yarn soaked in ultrasound gel to simulate peripheral nerves, and drinking straws filled with gel to represent vascular structures, we created various nerve block models. Meat glue applied between sections of meat appears hyperechoic under ultrasound, thereby mimicking fascial planes and has the added benefit of helping to secure the components of the model together. Using these elements, we were able to create realistic peripheral nerve, fascia iliaca compartment, serratus anterior plane, and interscalene brachial plexus models.ResultsOne of the necessary skills in performing UGRA involves placing the needle tip along a fascial plane and visualizing hydrodissection of this plane with the local anesthetic. When meat glue (transglutaminase) is applied between layers of meat such as pork loin, the meat binds together and creates a hyperechoic line that mimics a fascial plane. When meat glue is applied to two apposing fascial layers naturally occurring on the meat, the fascial plane can be injected, and fluid can be seen hydrodissecting in this space. We created several nerve block models using meat glue and other components to mimic normal landmarks.ConclusionsWe have developed inexpensive and easily reproducible models that create the realistic appearance of tissues, nerves, and fascial planes under ultrasound. They can also accurately simulate hydrodissection of fluid in fascial planes. We hope these nerve block models will allow for the education in UGRA to be more widespread and accessible to learners from all specialties.

Project description:OBJECTIVE:We hypothesized that ultrasound (US)-guided technique of the supra- and infraclavicular and axillary approaches of brachial plexus block (BPB) will produce a high quality of surgical anesthesia for operations below the shoulder independently of the approach and body mass index (BMI). Intercostobrachial and medial brachial cutaneous nerves will be blocked separately because they are not a part of the brachial plexus. METHODS:This is a prospective randomized observer-blinded study. The three approaches of the US-guided BPB without neurostimulation were compared for quality, performance time, and correlation between performance time and BMI. Intercostobrachial and medial brachial cutaneous nerve blocks were used in all patients. RESULTS:A total of 101 patients were randomized into three groups: SCL (supraclavicular), ICL (infraclavicular), and AX (axillary). Seven patients were excluded due to various factors. All three groups were similar in demographic data, M:F proportion, preoperative diagnosis and type of surgery, anesthesiologists who performed the block, and surgical staff that performed the surgical intervention. The time between the end of the block performance and the start of the operation was also similar. The quality of the surgical anesthesia and discomfort during the operation were identical following comparison between groups. No direct positive correlation was observed between BMI and the block performance time. The time for the axillary block was slightly longer than the time for the supra- and infraclavicular approaches, but it had no practical clinical significance. Transient Horner syndrome was observed in three patients in the SCL group. No other adverse effects or complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS:All three approaches can be used for US-guided BPB with similar quality of surgical anesthesia for operations of below the shoulder. A block of the intercostobrachial and medial brachial cutaneous nerves is recommended. Obesity is not a significant factor in relation to the time of US-guided BPB performance, or the quality of surgical anesthesia. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01442558.).

Project description:BACKGROUND:A classical approach to produce interscalene brachial plexus block (ISBPB) consistently spares the posterior aspect of the shoulder and ulnar sides of the elbow, forearm, and hand, which are innervated by the lower trunk of the brachial plexus (C8-T1). As an alternative to the classical approach, a caudal approach to ISBPB successfully produces anesthesia of the ulnar sides of the elbow, forearm, and hand. However, its beneficial effects on anesthesia in the posterior aspect of the shoulder have not been investigated. In addition, the C8 nerve root is not routinely selectively blocked during ISBPB. Therefore, we will compare the C5 to C7 and C5 to C8 nerve root blocks during a caudal approach to ISBPB to assess the clinical benefit of C8 nerve blocks for the surgical anesthesia of the posterior aspect of the shoulder. METHODS/DESIGN:In this prospective parallel-group single-blind randomized controlled trial, 74 patients scheduled to undergo arthroscopic shoulder surgery under ISBPB are randomly allocated to receive the C5 to C7 or C5 to C8 nerve root block at a 1:1 ratio. The primary outcome is pain intensity, which is rated as 0 (no pain), 1 (mild pain), or 2 (severe pain), during the introduction of a posterior portal into the glenohumeral joint. The secondary outcomes are (1) the extent of the ipsilateral sensory, motor, hemidiaphragmatic, and stellate ganglion blockade, (2) changes in the results of a pulmonary function test, (3) incidence of complications related to ISBPB, (4) postoperative numerical pain rating scale scores, (5) patients' satisfaction with the ISBPB, (6) dose and frequency of analgesic use, and (7) incidence of conversion to general anesthesia. DISCUSSION:This study is the first to evaluate the beneficial effects of the C8 nerve root block during ISBPB, which has rarely been performed due to the technical challenge in visualizing and blocking the C8 nerve root. It is expected that a C8 nerve root block performed during ISBPB will provide sufficient surgical anesthesia of the posterior aspect of the shoulder, which cannot be achieved by a classical approach to ISBPB. TRIAL REGISTRATION:ClicnicalTrials.gov, NCT03487874 . Registered on 4 April 2018.

Dataset Information

Ultrasound-guided root/trunk (interscalene) block for hand and forearm anesthesia.

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Ultrasound-guided root/trunk (interscalene) block for hand and forearm anesthesia.

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