[Continuous block of the sciatic nerve in the popliteal fossa for pain relief in three patients with intractable leg ulcer].
Pain of the leg ulcer significantly decreases patients' QOL, and pain control is an important treatment as the ulcer treatment. Continuous epidural block is often selected, but we can not provide enough continuous epidural block because of oral anticoagulant treatment and infection because of long-term indwelling catheter. We did continuous popliteal block and improved the patient's QOL significantly in the three case studied. We experienced fever and local redness because of catheter infection, but the removal of the catheter and the administration of antibiotics led to improved QOL without serious complications. We obtained approvals not only from patients but also from plastic surgeons and dermatologists. We suggest that continuous popliteal block can be a usual method of the general pain control procedure.
Ishiwa
Dai
D
Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama 236-0004.
Okazaki
Kaoru
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000628:therapy*; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods*; D010148:Intractable Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D012584:Sciatic Nerve