title: Severe respiratory failure after infraclavicular block with 0.75% ropivacaine: a case report.
abstract: Upper extremity surgery is usually performed with an axillary block. There is a risk of pneumothorax and phrenic nerve block when interscalene or supraclavicular block are used in day case surgery, or in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The infraclavicular block is a simple, reliable, and easy to learn method to block the brachial plexus. No clinically relevant respiratory effects have been reported with infraclavicular block. Nonetheless, we report a case of a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patient who developed severe respiratory failure requiring tracheal intubation after an infraclavicular block.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care II, University of Rennes, Hôpital Hôtel Dieu, 2 Rue de l'Hôtel Dieu, 35000 Rennes, France. Marc.Gentili@wanadoo.fr
authors.forename: Marc E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Gentili
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Deleuze
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Estèbe
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lebourg
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ecoffey
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000577:Amides; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D001132:Arm / Q000294:innervation / Q000601:surgery; D001917:Brachial Plexus; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000009:adverse effects*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D000077212:Ropivacaine
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000077212:Ropivacaine