• Julien Cabaton, Laurent Nové-Josserand, Luc Mercadal, and Thierry Vaudelin.
• From the Department of Anaesthesiology (JC, TV), Department of Shoulder Surgery, Ramsay Générale de Santé - Hôpital Privé Jean Mermoz, Centre Paul Santy (LN-J), and Department of Anaesthesiology, Ramsay Générale de Santé - Hôpital Privé Claude Galien, Quincy-Sous-Sénard, France (LM).
• Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2019 Oct 1; 36 (10): 778-786.

BackgroundUltrasound-guided interscalene block (ISB) is the reference technique for pain control after ambulatory upper limb surgery, but supraclavicular block (SCB) is an alternative.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of SCB vs. ISB in patients undergoing ambulatory arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR), with the hypothesis of noninferiority of SCB analgesia compared with ISB.DesignA randomised, single-blind, noninferiority study.SettingHôpital Privé Jean Mermoz, Centre Paul Santy, Lyon, France.PatientsAmbulatory ARCR patients.InterventionPatients were randomly allocated (1 : 1) to receive a single injection SCB or ISB, as well as general anaesthesia. All patients received a postoperative analgesic prescription for home use before leaving hospital (including fast-acting oral morphine sulphate). Patients completed a telephone questionnaire on days 1 and 2 postsurgery.Main Outcome MeasuresPrimary endpoint was oral morphine consumption (mg) during the first 2 days postsurgery. If the difference between mean morphine consumption in the SCB vs. ISB group was less than 30 mg, noninferiority of SCB compared with ISB would be demonstrated. Secondary evaluation criteria included pain scores (numerical rating scale), duration of motor and sensory blockade, and satisfaction with treatment.ResultsThe per-protocol cohort included 103 patients (SCB = 52, ISB = 51) (57% men, median age 58 years). Mean morphine consumption in the 48 h postsurgery was 9.4 vs. 14.7 mg in the SCB and ISB groups, respectively (difference -5.3, P < 0.001). The upper limit of the 95% CI was less than 30 mg, demonstrating noninferiority of SCB compared with ISB. No difference was observed between the two groups in terms of pain scores or the duration of motor or sensory blockade. Overall, 98% of patients in the SCB group vs. 90% in the ISB group were satisfied with their treatment.ConclusionSCB is as effective as ISB in terms of postoperative analgesia based on oral morphine consumption in patients undergoing ambulatory ARCR.Trial RegistrationEudraCT number: 2016-A00747-47.

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