CONTROLLED CLINICAL TRIAL
JOURNAL ARTICLE
Add like
Add dislike
Add to saved papers

Quantification of the vasodilatory effect of axillary plexus block. A prospective controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Axillary plexus block is a common method for regional anesthesia, especially in hand and wrist surgery. Local anesthetics (e.g., mepivacaine) are injected around the peripheral nerves in the axilla. A vasodilatory effect due to sympathicolysis has been described, but not quantified.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a prospective controlled study between October 2012 and July 2013, we analyzed 20 patients with saddle joint arthritis undergoing trapeziectomy under axillary plexus block. Patients received a mixture of mepivacaine 1% and ropivacaine 0.75% in a 3:1 ratio. The measurements were carried out on the plexus side and the contralateral hand, which acted as the control. Laser-Doppler spectrophotometry (oxygen to see [O2C] device) was used to measure various perfusion factors before and after the plexus block, after surgery and in 2-h intervals until 6 h postoperatively.

RESULTS: Compared with the contralateral side, the plexus block produced an enhancement of tissue oxygen saturation of 117.35 ± 34.99% (cf. control SO2 : 92.92 ± 22.30%, P < 0.010) of the baseline value. Furthermore, blood filling of microvessels (rHb: 131.36 ± 48.64% versus 109.12 ± 33.25%, P < 0.0062), peripheral blood flow (219.85 ± 165.59% versus 129.55 ± 77.12%, P < 0.018), and velocity (163.86 ± 58.18% versus 117.16 ± 45.05%, P < 0.006) showed an increase of values.

CONCLUSIONS: Axillary plexus block produces an improvement of peripheral tissue oxygen saturation of the upper extremity over the first 4 h after the inception of anesthesia.

Full text links

We have located links that may give you full text access.
Can't access the paper?
Try logging in through your university/institutional subscription. For a smoother one-click institutional access experience, please use our mobile app.

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Mobile app image

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Your Privacy Choices Toggle icon

You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app