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Ultrasound-Guided Interscalene Brachial Plexus Nerve Block With an Ultralow Volume of Local Anesthetic for Post-Thoracotomy Shoulder Girdle Pain.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound-guided interscalene nerve block using an ultralow volume of local anesthetic (5 mL of ropivacaine, 0.75%) for the management of post-thoracotomy shoulder girdle pain.

DESIGN: Open-cohort, prospective, single-center study.

SETTING: University hospital.

INTERVENTIONS: Patients with post-thoracotomy shoulder girdle pain (visual analog scale [VAS] ≥5) received an ultrasound-guided interscalene nerve block.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Thirty minutes after block implementation, the VAS was used to quantify pain across the shoulder girdle. The index (I) was calculated to indicate improvement of pain as follows: [Formula: see text] Nerve bocks resulting in I ≥75% were considered excellent. Total tramadol consumption 36 hours after nerve blocks, patients' satisfaction, and complications related to the procedure also were assessed. Patients were segregated in the following 2 groups: group A, which comprised patients with pain in the shoulder area (glenohumeral and acromioclavicular joints) (n = 30), and group B, which comprised patients with pain in the scapula (n = 17). I was significantly greater in group A (88.3% ± 14%) than in group B (43.2% ± 22%). In groups A and B, 90% and 11% of patients, respectively, demonstrated excellent pain control. Total tramadol consumption in group A, 25 (0-100) mg, was significantly less that of group B, 250 (150-500) mg. Patients' satisfaction also was significantly higher in group A compared with group B. No complications were recorded.

CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound-guided interscalene nerve block can substantially alleviate post-thoracotomy pain in the shoulder but not in the scapular area.

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