• David Brenner, Gabriella Iohom, Padraig Mahon, and George Shorten.
• From the Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Cork University Hospital and University College Cork, Cork, Ireland (DB, GI, PM, GS).
• Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2019 Jan 1; 36 (1): 48-54.

BackgroundAxillary and infraclavicular brachial plexus blocks are commonly used for upper limb surgery. Clinicians require information on the relative benefits of each to make a rational selection for specific patients and procedures.ObjectivesThe main objective of the study was to compare axillary and infraclavicular brachial plexus block in terms of the incidence and severity of tourniquet pain.DesignSingle blinded, randomised trial.SettingUniversity affiliated hospital, level-1 trauma centre.PatientsAge more than 18 years, ASAI-III patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery distal to the elbow, with an anticipated tourniquet duration of more than 45 min were recruited.InterventionsPatients underwent either ultrasound guided axillary brachial plexus block or infraclavicular block (ICB).Main Outcome MeasuresIncidence of tourniquet pain (onset, severity, associated haemodynamic changes) and block characteristics (block performance/onset times, distribution, incidence of adverse events, patient satisfaction) were recorded.ResultsEighty two patients (40 in the axillary block and 42 in the ICB group) were recruited. The incidence (5/36 and 3/35; P = 0.71), onset time (73.0 ± 14.8 and 86.6 ± 5.7 min; P = 0.18) and severity (mild/moderate; 4/1 and 1/2; P = 0.51) of tourniquet pain were similar in the two groups. The incidence of paraesthesia during block performance, and block performance time were greater in the axillary block group (P = 0.0054 and 0.012, respectively). The volume of local anaesthetic administered was greater in the ICB group (P < 0.01). ICB was associated with a greater degree of sensory block in the distributions of both the axillary nerve and the medial cutaneous brachial nerve (P < 0.01). Overall patient satisfaction and incidence of inadvertent vascular puncture were similar in the two groups.ConclusionFor surgical procedures which are of moderate duration, infraclavicular and axillary blocks are associated with similar incidences of tourniquet pain. Other factors appear to differentiate between these two blocks, namely block performance time, incidence of paraesthesia and dose of local anaesthetic.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT02714738.

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