Ultrasound Guidance Enhances the Efficiency of Brachial Plexus Block and Ameliorates the Vascular Injury Compared with Nerve Stimulator Guidance in Hand Surgery Patients.

Background: Nerve stimulation guidance and ultrasound guidance are two major methods that have been widely accepted and applied in axillary brachial plexus block. However, the differences between the effects of these two types of guidance still need to be further elucidated for clinical usage. Materials and Methods: Overall, 208 patients undergoing elective upper limb surgeries and receiving axillary brachial plexus block were recruited in our study. The patients were randomly assigned to receive either ultrasound guidance (group U, n = 112) or nerve stimulation (group N, n = 96). Pinprick test was performed for assessing the sensory blockades. The pain was evaluated by visual analog scale (VAS). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured by dichloro-dihydro-fluorescein diacetate staining and serum levels of nitric oxide (NO), nitric oxide synthases (NOS), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP1) were evaluated by ELISA. Results: Ultrasound guidance significantly enhanced the quality of the sensory blockade and reduced the VAS scores when compared with the nerve stimulator guidance. In addition, the production of ROS, NO, NOS, TNF-α, and MCP-1 were significantly alleviated by ultrasound guidance. Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided brachial plexus block relieves pain during operation, provides higher success rates in the nerve block, causes less vascular damage and results in lower levels of inflammatory cytokines secretion when compared with neurostimulator-directed brachial plexus blockage.

Brachial plexus block of the posterior and the lateral cord using ropivacaine 7.5 mg/mL.

BACKGROUND: We recently showed that the novel combination of a superficial cervical plexus block, a suprascapular nerve block, and the lateral sagittal infraclavicular brachial plexus block (LSIB) provides an alternative anaesthetic method for arthroscopic shoulder surgery. In this study, we hypothesised that the LSIB dose for this shoulder block could be significantly reduced by injecting only towards the shoulder relevant posterior and lateral cords. Our aim was to determine the minimum effective volume in 50% of the patients (MEV50 ) and to estimate the MEV95, when using ropivacaine 7.5 mg/mL to block these cords. METHODS: Twenty-three adult patients scheduled for hand surgery participated in the study. Considering the artery as a clock face with 12 o'clock ventral, the designated volume was injected immediately outside the arterial wall and between 8 and 9 o´clock. The in-plane technique was used. Block success was assessed 30 minutes after withdrawal of the needle. Successful posterior cord block was defined as anaesthesia or analgesia of the axillary nerve. Successful lateral cord block was defined as either anaesthesia or analgesia, or >50% motor block of the musculocutaneous nerve. MEV50 was determined by the staircase up-and-down method. Logistic regression and probit transformation were applied to estimate MEV95 . RESULTS: MEV50 and MEV95 were 7.8 mL [95% confidence interval (CI), 7.3-8.4] and 9.0 mL (95% CI, 7.8-10.3), respectively. CONCLUSION: For single-deposit infraclavicular posterior and lateral cord block, the MEV95 of ropivacaine 7.5 mg/mL was estimated to 9.0 mL.

EFFECTS OF CONVERSATIONAL HYPNOSIS ON RELATIVE PARASYMPATHETIC TONE AND PATIENT COMFORT DURING AXILLARY BRACHIAL PLEXUS BLOCKS FOR AMBULATORY UPPER LIMB SURGERY:A Quasiexperimental Pilot Study.

This two-center quasiexperimental pilot study was to determine the effect of conversational hypnosis on patient comfort and parasympathetic tone, which may represent a quantitative measure of hypnotic depth, during regional anesthesia. The patients received conversational hypnosis in one center and oral premedication in the other. The patients' subjective comfort (0-10 rating scale) and objective parasympathetic tone, as assessed by the Analgesia/Nociception Index (ANI), were measured before and after regional anesthesia. The parasympathetic tone and comfort scores evidenced a significantly greater increase in the hypnosis patients than in controls. These findings suggest that using conversational hypnosis during regional anesthesia may be followed by a subjective increase in patient comfort and an objective increase in parasympathetic tone, monitored by ANI.

Parálisis diafragmática unilateral. Consecuencias del bloqueo del plexo braquial vía supraclavicular con ecografía / Unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis. Consequences of brachial plexus block by supraclavicular way with ecogram

Introducción: la anestesia regional ha experimentado importantes cambios en los últimos años, debido, principalmente, al uso de la electroestimulación y la ecografía. La parálisis unilateral del diafragma es una complicación secundaria al bloqueo del plexo braquial por vía supraclavicular con una incidencia del 50 al 67 por ciento. La introducción de la ecolocalización no está exenta de esta. Dar a conocer todos los pormenores a su alrededor para que sirvan de guía a generaciones futuras es un deber de cada investigador. Objetivo: incrementar el conocimiento del manejo de pacientes con bloqueos periféricos bajo el uso de la ultrasonografía y la importancia de su seguimiento. Caso clínico: paciente de 60 años con 82 kg de peso, el que se planificó operación electiva para retirar tumor del antebrazo. Antecedentes de cardiopatía isquémica hipertensiva tratada con la colocación de dos stent. Se decidió realizar bloqueo del plexo braquial por vía supraclavicular y se obtuvo un correcto bloqueo, pero se produjo una parálisis del diafragma unilateral con repercusión para el bienestar del paciente. Conclusiones: a pesar de usar la ultrasonografía para los bloqueos periféricos, se debe seguir una vigilancia estricta de cada paciente durante todo el acto quirúrgico(AU)

Introduction: Regional anesthesia has experienced major changes in recent years, particularly due to the use of electrostimulation and ecogram. The unilateral paralysis of the diaphragm is a secondary complication after blocking the supraclavicular brachial plexus, with an incidence of 50 to 67 percent. The introduction of echolocation is not exempt from this. Every scholar should provide all the details related to it, so that they can serve as a guide to the coming generations. Objective: To increase knowledge on the management of patients with peripheral nerve blocks under the use of ultrasound and the importance of following them. Clinical case: 60-year-old patient with 82 kg of weight, which was planned elective surgery to remove tumor from the forearm. The patient had antecedents of hypertensive ischemic heart disease treated with the placement of two stents. It was decided to lock the supraclavicular brachial plexus, obtaining a correct locking, but there was a unilateral paralysis of the diaphragm with implications for the patient's welfare. Conclusions: despite using ultrasound for peripheral nerve blocks, you must follow a strict monitoring of each patient throughout the surgical act(AU)