title: Patient survey of continuous interscalene analgesia at home after shoulder surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of continuous peripheral nerve blocks at home (CPNBH) has improved patients' perioperative experience. In 30 months, 348 patients were sent home with interscalene CPNBH.
  
  
  METHODS
  With the Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, all patients were surveyed for quality of analgesia and complications. The patients and their caretaker received verbal and written instructions, including care of the catheter and pump, and a list of complications and side effects. All were instructed on catheter removal and were given a contact number, and patients were called once per day.
  
  
  RESULTS
  172 patients responded to this survey. The majority of patients (76%) had very good postoperative analgesia. There was a 9.3% incidence of leakage of clear fluid, a 5.8% incidence of premature dislodgement, and an 8.7% incidence of shortness of breath. Residual neurological symptoms persisted in 18.6% of responders, all resolving within two months except in one case. A large proportion (40%) required no oral analgesics, and half of the rest required less than 3 pain pills. Most (94.1%) felt comfortable removing the catheters at home by themselves or by a family member/caretaker.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This survey shows that CPNBH results in low pain scores and a low incidence of side effects. Many patients commented positively on their overall impression of their anesthesia care, particularly the level of attention that they received. This highlights the low incidence of those complications and neural injury.
authors: Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
authors: Elie J
authors: EJ
authors: Chidiac
authors: Roland
authors: R
authors: Kaddoum
authors: Steve A
authors: SA
authors: Peterson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018575:Home Care Services, Hospital-Based; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012782:Shoulder / Q000601:surgery; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D002045:Bupivacaine