[Catheters and anesthetic solutions in regional peripheral anesthesia: Quo Vadis? Case Reports.].
OBJECTIVE
The clinical results of regional peripheral blockades are not always what we hope for. Sometimes the results are short of our intent and sometimes are exaggerated. To understand and learn those phenomena, radioimaging techniques are very helpful. The objective of this study is to demonstrate the different trajectories and distribution of catheters and anesthetics (local anesthetic with contrast), respectively, used in regional blockades of the upper and lower limbs.


METHODS
Three cases of peripheral regional blockade, in which unexpected clinical effects were solved using contrast X-rays, are presented.


CONCLUSIONS
Contrast X-rays are very useful to verify the position of catheters and solve unexpected anesthetic effects, because they are able to relate the unpredictable dispersion of anesthetics to the signs and symptoms of peripheral blockades.
Geier
Karl Otto
KO
Hospital Municipal de Pronto-socorro de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS.