Regional anesthesia
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Regional anesthesia · Sep 1992
Brachial plexus block with the nerve stimulator: motor response characteristics at three sites.
Differences in motor response patterns, minimum electrical currents, and success rates using a nerve stimulator for brachial plexus block were determined for the interscalene, supraclavicular, and axillary approaches. ⋯ Localization of the brachial plexus with the nerve stimulator is equally effective at the interscalene, supraclavicular, and axillary sites. Current values in the range reported have no predictive value for success. Advantages of the nerve stimulator for brachial plexus block include an objective endpoint and continuous feedback.
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Regional anesthesia · Sep 1992
Continuous pump pressures cannot be used to identify catheter tip migration into the subarachnoid space.
Migration of an epidural catheter into the subarachnoid space is a potentially lethal complication of continuous epidural anesthesia. We evaluated the use of pump pressure measurement during infusion in detecting such an occurrence. ⋯ We conclude that epidural and subarachnoid space resistance is essentially zero and the pump pressure in the system is used to overcome the catheter resistance. Both spaces offer the same total resistance to infusion and, therefore, pump pressure will not change when a catheter migrates into the subarachnoid space.