Transition from nerve stimulator to sonographically guided axillary brachial plexus anesthesia in hand surgery: block quality and patient satisfaction during the transition period

Luyet, Cédric; Constantinescu, Mihai Adrian; Waltenspül, Manuel; Luginbühl, Martin; Vögelin, Esther (2013). Transition from nerve stimulator to sonographically guided axillary brachial plexus anesthesia in hand surgery: block quality and patient satisfaction during the transition period. Journal of ultrasound in medicine, 32(5), pp. 779-786. American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine 10.7863/ultra.32.5.779

Full text not available from this repository.

OBJECTIVES

Sonographic guidance for peripheral nerve anesthesia has proven increasingly successful in clinical practice; however, fears that a change to sonographically guided regional anesthesia may impair the block quality and operating room work flow persist in certain units. In this retrospective cohort study, block quality and patient satisfaction during the transition period from nerve stimulator to sonographic guidance for axillary brachial plexus anesthesia in a tertiary referral center were investigated.

METHODS

Anesthesia records of all patients who had elective surgery of the wrist or hand during the transition time (September 1, 2006-August 25, 2007) were reviewed for block success, placement time, anesthesiologist training level, local anesthetic volume, and requirement of additional analgesics. Postoperative records were reviewed, and patient satisfaction was assessed by telephone interviews in matched subgroups.

RESULTS

Of 415 blocks, 341 were sonographically guided, and 74 were nerve stimulator guided. Sonographically guided blocks were mostly performed by novices, whereas nerve stimulator-guided blocks were performed by advanced users (72.3% versus 14%; P < .001). Block performance times and success rates were similar in both groups. In sonographically guided blocks, significantly less local anesthetics were applied compared to nerve stimulator-guided blocks (mean ± SD, 36.1 ± 7.1 versus 43.9 ± 6.1 mL; P< .001), and less opioids were required (fentanyl, 66.1 ± 30 versus 90 ± 62 μg; P< .001). Interviewed patients reported significantly less procedure-related discomfort, pain, and prolonged procedure time when block placement was sonographically guided (2% versus 20%; P = .002).

CONCLUSIONS

Transition from nerve stimulator to sonographic guidance for axillary brachial plexus blocks did not change block performance times or success rates. Patient satisfaction was improved even during the early institutional transition period.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Intensive Care, Emergency Medicine and Anaesthesiology (DINA) > Clinic and Policlinic for Anaesthesiology and Pain Therapy 04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Orthopaedic, Plastic and Hand Surgery (DOPH) > Clinic of Plastic and Hand Surgery > Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery 04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Orthopaedic, Plastic and Hand Surgery (DOPH) > Clinic of Plastic and Hand Surgery > Hand Surgery 04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Orthopaedic, Plastic and Hand Surgery (DOPH) > Clinic of Plastic and Hand Surgery
UniBE Contributor:	Luyet, Cédric, Constantinescu, Mihai Adrian, Luginbühl, Martin, Vögelin, Esther
Subjects:	600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health
ISSN:	0278-4297
Publisher:	American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Language:	English
Submitter:	Jeannie Wurz
Date Deposited:	11 Mar 2014 14:15
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2022 14:28
Publisher DOI:	10.7863/ultra.32.5.779
PubMed ID:	23620319
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/42637