A new technique of continuous interscalene nerve block (original) (raw)

Case Scenario: Neurologic Complication after Continuous Interscalene Block

Anesthesiology, 2010

A 33-YR-OLD woman, American Society of Anesthesiologists risk classification I, was referred for surgical treatment of left shoulder instability. Her medical history was unremarkable, but she had undergone two previous shoulder surgeries: anterior stabilization of left shoulder 3 yr ago followed by a posterior Bankart stabilization 2 yr later because of recurrent luxation and pain. At examination, she still complained about pain in her left shoulder, and movement was severely limited. A left Bankart operation and capsulotomy were scheduled.

A retrospective review of interscalene nerve blockade for shoulder surgery in the pediatric population A retrospective review of interscalene nerve blockade for shoulder surgery in the pediatric population

Purpose: To retrospectively investigate the efficacy of interscalene nerve blockade in reducing postoperative pain and minimizing inpatient hospital admission after shoulder surgery in the pediatric population. Methodology: Thirty-four consecutive patients undergoing shoulder surgery under general anesthesia both with and without the addition of an interscalene nerve block were included in the study. After induction of general anesthesia, those patients receiving regional anesthesia had an interscalene nerve block placed using real-time ultrasonographic guidance with the deposition of 20-30 mL of local anesthetic solution into the interscalene groove. Postoperative pain scores, the use of supplemental analgesic medications, post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) length of stay, hospital course, and any acute or non-acute complications were recorded and evaluated. Results: There were no cardiac events, neuropathies, seizures, pneumothoraces, or other major complications. There was a statistically significant reduction in the pain scores in patients who received an interscalene nerve block versus those who did not. There was also a significant difference found in the need for postoperative inpatient hospital admission. Eleven of the 14 patients (79%) who received a combined general and regional anesthetic technique were discharged home on the day of surgery versus 9 of 20 patients (45%) who did not receive an interscalene block (p = 0.036). Postoperative opioid requirements were significantly reduced in patients receiving an interscalene block within the first six hours of inpatient hospital admission (p = 0.035). There was no difference in PACU length of stay or adverse effects (postoperative nausea and vomiting) between the groups. Conclusion: Interscalene nerve block offers a safe and effective method of providing superior postoperative analgesia and minimizing inpatient hospital admissions in pediatric patients undergoing shoulder surgery.

The Minimum Effective Analgesic Volume of 0.5% Bupivacaine for Ultrasound-Guided Anterior Suprascapular Nerve Block

Cureus

The interscalene brachial plexus block (ISBB) constitutes the gold standard for analgesia after shoulder procedures. Ipsilateral phrenic nerve block remains the most common adverse effect after ISBB. Alternative nerve blocks are performed in shoulder surgery in order to prevent hemi-diaphragmatic paralysis (HDP). The purpose of the present study was to investigate the minimum effective local anesthetic volume of 0.5% bupivacaine for postoperative analgesia with an anterior suprascapular nerve block (ASSB). The secondary aim was to investigate diaphragm functions with the local anesthetic doses used while conducting effective volume research. Method This prospective observational study was conducted at the American Hospital of Istanbul, Turkey, from March to July 2022. The initial injected volume of 0.5% bupivacaine was 10 ml. Our clinical experience indicates that this yields a complete sensory block of the anterior suprascapular nerve. In accordance with the up-and-down method, the volume of 0.5% bupivacaine used for a particular patient was determined by the outcome of the preceding block, which represented block success. In case of effective ASSB being achieved, the volume of 0.5% bupivacaine to be administered to the next patient was lowered by 1 ml. In case of block failure, however, the volume of 0.5% bupivacaine to be applied in the subsequent case was increased by 1 ml. Ipsilateral hemi-diaphragmatic movement measurements were taken before (baseline) and 30 minutes after the block. General anesthesia was induced 60 minutes after the completion of the block performance by means of a standardized protocol. Results Sixty-seven patients were included in the study. The ED50 and ED95 calculated for anterior suprascapular nerve block using probit transformation and logistic regression analysis were 2.646 (95% CI, 0.877-2.890) and 3.043 ml (95% CI, 2.771-4.065), respectively. When complete paralysis was defined as 75% or above, partial paralysis as 25-50%, and no paralysis as 25% or less, volumes of 6 ml or lower appeared to cause no paralysis for the anterior suprascapular nerve block. Conclusion We, therefore, recommend using a volume of 6 ml or less in order to achieve diaphragm-sparing features for anterior suprascapular nerve blocks.

Retrospective evaluation of the effects of traditional interscalene block alone versus combined with superior truncus block-associated diaphragm paralysis during arthroscopic shoulder surgery

Joint Diseases and Related Surgery

Arthroscopic shoulder surgical procedures were performed under general anesthesia with the patient in the beach chair position. [1] However, the peripheral nerve block in arthroscopic shoulder surgery is advantageous in providing intra-and postoperative pain relief, as well as good recovery and rehabilitation. [1,2] Interscalene brachial plexus block which is performed by administering local anesthetics to the C5 and C6 nerve roots between the anterior and middle scalene muscles is among the regional techniques frequently used for anesthesia and/or analgesia for shoulder surgery. [2] During interscalene block (ISB) application, diaphragm Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of traditional interscalene block (ISB) alone and ISB combined with superior truncus block (STB)-associated diaphragm paralysis evaluated by ultrasound, duration of analgesia, and rate of complication in patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery. Patients and methods: Between January 2020 and December 2022, a total of 285 patients (158 males, 127 females; mean age: 48.0±15.1 years; range, 18 to 80 years) who underwent arthroscopic shoulder surgery under ISB, either alone or combined with STB, were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were operated under ISB alone using 30 mL 0.5% bupivacaine (n=140) or ISB using 10 mL (n=67) or 5 mL 0.5% bupivacaine (n=78) combined with STB using 20 mL 0.5% bupivacaine. Ultrasound reports of all patients' diaphragm function were also retrieved. Duration of analgesia, need for additional analgesics, and the type of analgesic drugs, and evaluations of patient and surgeon satisfactions were evaluated. Degree of diaphragm paralysis considered as complete (≥75%), partial (25.1 to 74.9%) and no paralysis (≤25%) were evaluated for comparison between the block types. Results: The patients underwent operation due to rotator cuff rupture (n=218) or Bankart (n=67). Duration of analgesia, need for additional analgesia, and the type of analgesic drugs used were comparable between the block types. The most common complication was Horner syndrome (n=96, 33.68%) which was significantly lower in ISB (5 mL) +STB (20 mL) than the others (17.9% vs. 41.4% and 37.3%, p=0.002). The ISB (5 mL bupivacaine 0.5%) + STB (20 mL bupivacaine 0.5%) resulted in less complete diaphragm paralysis with adequate surgical anesthesia not requiring general anesthesia. Conclusion: The ISB using 5 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine + STB instead of traditional ISB alone can be preferred due to the low rate of complete hemi-diaphragm paralysis with adequate surgical anesthesia/analgesia and high patient and surgeon satisfaction.

Neurologic Sequelae After Interscalene Brachial Plexus Block for Shoulder/Upper Arm Surgery: The Association of Patient, Anesthetic, and Surgical Factors to the Incidence and Clinical Course

Anesthesia & Analgesia, 2005

We determined the incidence, distribution, and resolution of neurologic sequelae and the association with anesthetic, surgical, and patient factors after single-injection interscalene block (ISB) using levobupivacaine 0.625% with epinephrine 1:200,000 in subjects undergoing shoulder or upper arm surgery, or both, in 693 consecutive adult patients. After a standardized ISB, assessments were made at 24 and 48 h and at 2 and 4 wk for anesthesia, hypesthesia, paresthesias, pain/dysesthesias, and motor weakness. Symptomatic patients were monitored until resolution. Subjects reporting pain or discomfort Ͼ3 of 10 and those with motor or extending sensory symptoms received diagnostic assessment. Six-hundred-sixty subjects completed 4 wk of follow-up. Fifty-eight neurologic sequelae were reported by 56 subjects. Symptoms were sensory except for two cases of motor weakness (lesions identified distant from the ISB site). Thirty-one sequelae with likely ISB association were reported by 29 subjects, including 14 at the ISB site, 9 at the distal phalanx of thumb/

Randomized, controlled trial comparing respiratory and analgesic effects of interscalene, anterior suprascapular, and posterior suprascapular nerve blocks for arthroscopic shoulder surgery

Korean Journal of Anesthesiology, 2020

BackgroundInterscalene brachial plexus block (ISB) provides excellent analgesia for arthroscopic shoulder surgeries but is associated with adverse effects including hemidiaphragmatic paresis. We aimed to compare the respiratory effects, forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) between suprascapular nerve block (SSB) and ISB.MethodsSixty patients were recruited and randomized into ISB, anterior SSB, and posterior SSB groups. FVC, FEV1, and diaphragmatic excursion were evaluated at baseline and 30 minutes after intervention. Blocks were performed under ultrasound guidance with 15 ml of 0.5% ropivacaine. Pain scores were assessed at 6, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively.ResultsThe ISB group showed a reduced FVC of 31.2% ± 17.5% (mean ± SD), while the anterior and posterior SSB groups had less reduction of 3.6% ± 18.6% and 6.8% ± 6.5%, respectively (P < 0.001). The ISB group showed more reduction in diaphragmatic excursion than the anterior and poste...

Sonographic evaluation of a paralyzed hemidiaphragm from ultrasound-guided interscalene brachial plexus nerve block

The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 2012

The ultrasound-guided interscalene brachial plexus is becoming increasingly popular for anesthesia in the management of upper-extremity injuries by emergency physicians. Traditional high-volume injections of local anesthesia will also affect the phrenic nerve, leading to temporary paralysis of the ipsilateral hemidiaphragm. With direct ultrasound guidance, more precise needle placement allows for lower-volume injections that reduce inadvertent spread of local anesthetic to the phrenic nerve without decreasing the efficacy of onset of time and quality of the block. However, the risk of incidental paralysis of the hemidiaphragm is still not eliminated with low-volume intraplexus injections. This case highlights this common complication of interscalene brachial plexus nerve blocks and demonstrates how emergency physicians can easily use B-mode and M-mode ultrasound to evaluate the paralysis of the hemidiaphragm.