Patient and surgeon satisfaction with extremity blockade for surgery in remote locations.
In a practice that may be unique to military health care, extremity nerve blocks are established by anesthesiologists before transporting the patient to a remote clinic for surgery without further monitoring by anesthesia personnel. The safety and acceptance of this practice was assessed through a prospective survey of the surgeons and their patients. Six hundred seventy-seven blocks were performed in a 1-yr period with no adverse events related to this practice. Completed surveys were received from 406 (60%) of the surgeons and 232 (34%) of the patients. Of the blocks performed, 638 (94%) were brachial plexus blocks, with axillary blocks accounting for 87% of the brachial plexus blocks. Of the responding patients, 78% stated that they would be willing to undergo a repeat block. The surgeons were satisfied with the operating conditions in 96% of the cases. This study supports the safety and efficacy of this practice.
Waters
J H
JH
Department of Anesthesiology, Naval Medical Center, San Diego, California 92134-5000, USA.
Leivers
D
D
Maher
D
D
Scanlon
T
T
DeGuzman
G M
GM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001917:Brachial Plexus; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies