• Michał Kolny, Michał J Stasiowski, Marek Zuber, Radosław Marciniak, Ewa Chabierska, Aleksandra Pluta, Przemysław Jałowiecki, and Tomasz Byrczek.
• Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, School of Medicine with the Division of Dentistry in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland, St. Barbara's. mstasiowski.anest@gmail.com.
• Anaesthesiol Intensive Ther. 2017 Jan 1; 49 (1): 47-52.

BackgroundInterscalene brachial plexus block is an effective regional anesthesia technique for shoulder surgeries. The superiority of the popular ultrasound-guided blocks over peripheral nerve stimulator-confirmed blocks remains unclear. In this study the efficacy of these different block techniques was compared.MethodsThis prospective, randomized, clinical study included 109 patients (ASA grades I-III) who receive 20 mL 0.5% ropivacaine with ultrasound-guided blocks (U group), peripheral nerve stimulator-confirmed blocks (N group), or ultrasound-guided and peripheral nerve stimulator-confirmed blocks (dual guidance; NU group) for elective shoulder arthroscopy. Block onset time, duration, and effectiveness on the Lovett rating scale were assessed.ResultsThere was no statistically significant intergroup difference in duration of block performance, irrespective of the technique (P = 0.232). Onset time of complete warmth sensation loss (P < 0.001) and muscle strength abolition (P < 0.001) was significantly longer and mean Lovett rating scale score distribution was significantly higher in the N group than in the other groups (P < 0.001). These findings show a statistically significant correlation between the performance of the used block technique and the necessity of conversion to general anesthesia because of insufficient block in the N group (58.54%) than in the U (24.44%) and NU (19.57%) groups.ConclusionsPeripheral nerve stimulator-confirmed needle placement is not necessary to ensure effectiveness of ultrasound-guided blocks, which is expressed as a lack of necessity of conversion to general anesthesia. Nevertheless, the dual guidance technique is recommended to reduce the risk of complications and might be considered the regional anesthesia of choice for shoulder surgery.

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