Interscalene block for shoulder surgery in physician-owned community ambulatory surgery centers.
OBJECTIVE
To retrospectively report on a series of patients who had interscalene block regional anesthesia performed for outpatient open and arthroscopic shoulder surgical procedures in a community-based ambulatory surgery center setting.


METHODS
We reviewed the cases of 1,945 patients who had interscalene block regional anesthesia performed during an 8-year period.


RESULTS
The complication rate was 0.63%, with all complications occurring in the immediate postoperative period, none of which were permanent.


CONCLUSIONS
With an expert, experienced anesthesia team, the interscalene block can be a safe method (temporary complication rate, 0.63%) of intraoperative anesthesia and perioperative analgesia for outpatient open and arthroscopic shoulder surgery in physician-owned ambulatory surgery centers.


METHODS
Level IV, therapeutic case series.
Bert
Jack M
JM
Summit Orthopedics, St. Paul, Minnesota 55102, USA. bertx001@tc.umn.edu
Khetia
Eric
E
Dubbink
Douglas A
DA
D000577:Amides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D001182:Arthroscopy; D001917:Brachial Plexus; D003153:Community Health Services; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007193:Independent Practice Associations; D008297:Male; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000077212:Ropivacaine; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D013531:Surgicenters / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D000577:Amides; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000077212:Ropivacaine