title: [Continuous axillary catheter plexus anesthesia--a method of postoperative analgesia and sympathetic nerve block following hand surgery].
abstract: During a period of one year (March 1985 to March 1986) 52 axillary brachial plexus catheters were left in place for two to twelve days. The main indications were postoperative analgesia and sympatholysis after microvascular surgery of the hand. With the continuous infusion of 0.25% or 0.375% bupivacaine, 6-8 ml/h a sufficient effect was seen. There was no evidence of accumulation of the administered drug after a prolonged period of infusion. A steady state of serum levels built up in the range between 0.5 to 1.5 micrograms/ml. There were no toxic side effects by the local anaesthetic agent. In one case an infection of the axillary region developed, which disappeared after removal of the catheter without any consequences. In summary the continuous axillary brachial plexus block is an acceptable method for intra and postoperative analgesia and sympatholysis in microvascular surgery of the hand.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Anästhesie und Intensivmedizin, Berufsgenossenschaftlichen Unfallklinik Ludwigshafen-Oggersheim.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Büttner
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Klose
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hammer
mesh_terms: D001340:Autonomic Nerve Block / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000187:drug effects*; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006225:Hand / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008619:Mepivacaine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D008619:Mepivacaine; D002045:Bupivacaine
vernacular_title: Die kontinuierliche axilläre Katheter-Plexusanästhesie--eine Methode zur postoperativen Analgesie und Sympathikolyse nach handchirurgischen Eingriffen.