• Seçkin Saracoglu, Zekiye Bigat, Fatma Ertugrul, Bilge Karsli, and Nurten Kayacan.
• Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Faculty of Medicine, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey.
• J. Int. Med. Res. 2014 Apr 1;42(2):337-46.

ObjectiveThe effectiveness of axillary brachial plexus block (ABPB) performed using peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) alone was compared with PNS preceded by nerve localization using a pen device, enabling nerve mapping without puncturing the skin.MethodsPatients undergoing unilateral hand or forearm surgery suitable for ABPB were randomly assigned to receive either PNS alone (pen - group) or PNS preceded by nerve localization using a pen device (pen + group). Parameters related to the block procedure and patient comfort were assessed.ResultsThirty patients were included in each group. The block performance time was longer in the pen + group than the pen - group despite a reduced number of needle insertions. The complete block rate was higher and intraoperative analgesic usage lower in the pen + group compared with the pen - group. Patient satisfaction and complication rates were similar in the two groups.ConclusionThe pen device seems to be a helpful addition to PNS for ABPB, with improved results in terms of block success and patient comfort, but further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

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