Brachial plexus block and upper limb regional anesthesia

ABSTRACT

The authors report their experience about 50 cases of supra clavicular plexus block realised by Kulen-Kampff method. The anesthesia obtained has been complete in 84% of cases and in the 16% remaining general anaesthesia was necessery to permit surgery. A case of moderate pleural detachment lately and a case of post anaesthesia paresthesia both spontaneously resolvent were registered. Actualy the adoption of perivascular techniques of brachial plexus anaesthesia [interscalenic, supraclavicular, axillary] have greatly improved the performance of this variety of upper limb locoregional anaesthesia, thus reducing the percentage of failure and eliminating or reducing the risk of pneumo-thorax. Locoregional anaesthesia of the upper limb should constitute a daily method in the surgery of upper limb and not a technic subordinated to the contra-indications of general anaesthesia