Ultrasound Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Ultrasound, including details on screening, diagnosis, pregnancy, detection.

A simplified approach to vertical infraclavicular brachial plexus blockade using hand-held Doppler.

Renes S, Clark L, Gielen M, Spoormans H, Giele J, Wadhwa A

Department of Anesthesiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands. s.renes@anes.umcn.nl

In this observational study, we used Doppler ultrasound during the performance of vertical infraclavicular brachial plexus blockade. The success rate at inserting the needle at the point where the sound of the subclavian artery via Doppler reached its maximum audibility was compared with that of the classical insertion point. In 89 of the 100 patients, the medial or posterior cord was found at first needle pass. Using the Doppler point for insertion resulted in a significantly more lateral entry point compared with the classical point (P < 0.001) and was associated with a high success rate of infraclavicular block.

Published 22 February 2008 in Anesth Analg, 106(3): 1012-4, table of contents.
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