Brachial Plexus Block Group Research Articles

Comparative study on effects of two different nerve block anesthesia in clavicle fracture fixation

Objective To investigate the effect of the two different nerve block anesthesia on clavicle fracture fixation.Methods 52 cases of clavicular fracture fixation were randomly divided into two groups (n =26):cervical plexus nerve block group (group A),Brachial plexus block group (group B).Non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP),heart rate (HR),oxygen saturation (SpO2) and electrocardiogram (ECG) were observed before anesthesia,incision,and fractures.We analyzed the anesthetic effect in different points time.Results ①Compared with the group B,three time points NIBP and HR of group A were statistically significant(P ＜ 0.05),but there was no significant difference in the SpO2 between group A and group B (P＞ 0.05).②Compared with the group B,the anesthetic effect was statistically significant in group A(P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The depth and superficial cervical plexus nerve block is a better and feasible anesthetic method in clavicle fracture fixation. Key words: Cervical plexus nerve block; Brachial plexus block; Clavicle fracture; Internal fixation

Sympathectomy-like effects of brachial plexus block in arteriovenous access surgery

We used color Doppler ultrasonography to prospectively study the effects of supraclavicular brachial plexus block (BPB) on blood flow and vein diameter in patients undergoing arteriovenous access surgery. BPB might produce a sympathectomy-like effect that could have a role in improving patencty. Thirty-one consecutive patients who underwent arteriovenous access surgery with BPB were studied prospectively, in addition to 5 patients with BPB having other operations and 5 patients undergoing general anesthesia for elective surgery. Vessel diameter and pulsatility index (PI) were among the parameters measured. Mean PI decreased from 6.18 ± 1.67 before the block to 3.92 ± 1.75 at 10 min after initiation of the block ( p=0.001). Basilic vein diameter increased from 6.28 ± 0.86 mm (range 4.85 to 7.30) before the block to 7.83 ± 1.52 mm (range 5.80 to 12.14) 10 min after the block ( p = 0.03). In the general anesthesia control group the PI decreased, but returned to preanesthetic levels immediately after the patients reached the recovery room. In the nonaccess BPB group the PI remained low after the block for at least 5 h. Brachial plexus block causes significant venous dilation and a significant decrease in the pulsatility index. This appears to be due to a beneficial sympathectomy-like effect of the block that might prevent early failure and improve patency in vascular access surgery.