Ultrasound Guided Axillary Brachial Plexus Block Versus Supraclavicular Block in Emergency Crushed Hand Patients

Ultrasound Guided Axillary Brachial Plexus Block Versus Supraclavicular Block in Emergency Crushed Hand Patients: A Comparative Study

The current study focused on ultrasound guided brachial plexus block (BPB) which plays an important role in patients with hand trauma either in pain control or for surgical intervention. The brachial plexus can be blocked by several techniques but the most commonly used are the supraclavicular (SCB) and axillary (AXB) blocks. Aim of this study is to compare between the two techniques as regard performance time, needling time, anesthesia related time, block related complications, number of needle pass, and block related pain. 80 patients were allocated randomly into two equal groups, under ultrasound guidance the SCB and AXB were done for the two groups respectively. The needling time, performance time, anesthesia related time, onset time, number of 1st needle pass in each group and block related complications were noted.

Inclusion Criteria:

• patients with ASA physical status II and III, and body mass index (BMI) between 20 and 35, aged 40-70, undergoing emergency crushed hand surgery

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with significant coagulopathy, infection or trauma at the injection site of local anesthetics, allergy to local anesthetics, refusal to participate, known neuropathies patients, mentally retarded patients, severely trauma patients who required general anesthesia from the start in the pre-induction room, and unconscious patients due to the accident. Also, shocked patients and patients with chronic obstructive airway disease