Brief reports: nerve stimulator evoked motor response predicting a successful supraclavicular brachial plexus block.
BACKGROUND
We examined the success rate of supraclavicular brachial plexus block after the different evoked motor responses to nerve stimulation.


METHODS
This multicenter observational study included 377 patients. For each block, the evoked motor response elicited at 0.25 mA for 2 milliseconds was recorded, 30 mL bupivacaine 0.25% was injected, and the block was observed for success or failure.


RESULTS
Complete anesthesia occurred in 317 cases (84.1%). The success rate was 100% when the evoked motor response was simultaneous flexion of the third and fourth digits or flexion of all 4 digits (digits 2-5) with or without thumb opposition.


CONCLUSIONS
Simultaneous flexion of the third and fourth digits with or without other digits is associated with the highest success rate of supraclavicular brachial plexus block.
Haleem
Shahla
S
Department of Anesthesiology, King Fahd University Hospital, PO Box 40081, Al-Khobar 31952, Saudi Arabia.
Siddiqui
Ahsan K
AK
Mowafi
Hany A
HA
Ismail
Salah A
SA
Ali
Qazi Ahsan
QA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D001917:Brachial Plexus; D002045:Bupivacaine; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D002045:Bupivacaine