Articles: nerve-block.
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Plasma concentrations of local anaesthetic agents have been measured after 40 interscalene brachial plexus blocks in 39 patients, using lignocaine, prilocaine, bupivacaine and etidocaine. Lignocaine produced greater concentrations than prilocaine, and bupivacaine greater concentrations than etidocaine. The addition of adrenaline resulted in much lower concentrations in the case of all four agents.
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A prospective study was made of 73 patients presenting in one year with abdominal pain provisionally diagnosed as of spinal origin. The criteria for audit of diagnosis and treatment are defined. ⋯ Thirty-three of these (67.3%) had both complete and prolonged relief. It is suggested that the block causes interruption of a vicious circle of pain and muscle spasm in a 'spinal reflex pain syndrome'.