Open AccessComfort of the patient during axillary blocks placement: a randomized comparison of the neurostimulation and the ultrasound guidance techniques
Author(s) -
Sébastien Bloc,
Luc Mercadal,
Thierry Garnier,
B. Komly,
P. Leclerc,
Bertrand Morel,
Claude Ecoffey,
Gilles Dhonneur
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
european journal of anaesthesiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.445
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1365-2346
pISSN - 0265-0215
DOI - 10.1097/eja.0b013e328333fc0a
Subject(s) - medicine , neurostimulation , visual analogue scale , ultrasound , patient satisfaction , randomized controlled trial , physical therapy , block (permutation group theory) , anesthesia , surgery , physical medicine and rehabilitation , stimulation , radiology , geometry , mathematics
Axillary brachial plexus block under neurostimulation is commonly used for upper limb surgery, but it is sometimes recognized as an uncomfortable technique, with most patients identifying electrical stimulation as an unpleasant moment. Ultrasound-guided regional anaesthesia, which becomes an increasingly popular technique, does not require electrical stimulation and then should theoretically improve axillary block placement comfort. The aim of this study was to compare the comfort of the patients during axillary block placement with neurostimulation and ultrasound guidance using either the out-of-plane or the in-plane approach.