title: Ultrasound does not shorten the duration of procedure but provides a faster sensory and motor block onset in comparison to nerve stimulator in infraclavicular brachial plexus block.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Infraclaviculr Brachial plexus (ICBP) block is useful for upper extremity surgery. The aim of this study was to compare the ultrasound (US) technique with the nerve stimulation (NS) technique in their success rates and times to perform ICBP block.
  
  
  METHODS
  60 patients undergoing surgery of the upper limb were randomly allocated into two groups (n = 30 per group). Group 1; US, and Group 2; NS. Procedure time (including time for initial ultrasound examination), the success rate and the onset time of sensory and motor blockade were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The time needed to perform the ICBP block is similar in both groups (220 seconds ± 130 in US group versus 281 ± 134 seconds in NS group; P = 0.74). The success rate of all the nerve blocks in the US group was 100%. The success rate in the NS group was 73.3%, 76.7%, 76.7% and 100% for radial, ulnar, medial, and musculocutaneous nerve, respectively. A significantly faster onset of sensory block for the radial, ulnar, median, musculocutaneous, and the four nerves considered together were observed. The onset of motor block for the radial, ulnar, and medial nerves was faster in the US group. However, the onset of motor block for the musculocutaneous nerve and the four nerves considered together was comparable between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ultrasound-guided infraclavicular brachial plexus block is a significantly efficacious method with faster onset but similar procedure time compared to the nerve stimulation technique.
authors: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Tunisian Military Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors: Walid
authors: W
authors: Trabelsi
authors: Mondher Belhaj
authors: MB
authors: Amor
authors: Mohamed Anis
authors: MA
authors: Lebbi
authors: Chiheb
authors: C
authors: Romdhani
authors: Sami
authors: S
authors: Dhahri
authors: Mustapha
authors: M
authors: Ferjani
keywords: Brachial plexus; Bupivacaine; Ultrasound
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