title: The Ultrasound-Guided Retroclavicular Block: A Prospective Feasibility Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this feasibility study was to determine the success rate (sensory and surgical) of the novel retroclavicular block and to thoroughly describe the technique. In addition, needle tip and shaft visibility, needling time, procedural discomfort, motor block success rate, patient satisfaction at 48-hour follow-up, and complications were also recorded.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty patients scheduled for distal upper limb surgery received an in-plane, single-shot, ultrasound-guided retroclavicular block with 40 mL of mepivacaine 1.5% with epinephrine 2.5 μg/mL. Block success was defined as a sensory score of 10/10 for the 5 nerves supplying the distal upper limb at 30 minutes. Surgical success, needle visibility, needling time, axillary artery depth, motor block rate, patient discomfort with technique, satisfaction at 48 hours, and complications were also recorded. All blocks were video-recorded and timed for further independent assessment. A chest x-ray was obtained before discharge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-five patients had a total sensory score of 10/10 at 30 minutes (90% success rate). Surgical success rate was 96%. Mean needling time was 3.77 minutes (25th-75th percentiles, 2.90-6.53 minutes) with a mean axillary artery depth of 3.1 ± 0.7 cm. Procedure-related discomfort (mean visual analog scale, 1.9 ± 1.2) was low. Mean 48-hour patient satisfaction rate (9.2 ± 1.1), mean needle tip (Likert scale, 3.0 ± 0.9), and shaft visibility (3.9 ± 0.9) were high. One vascular puncture and two transient paresthesias were recorded. No pneumothorax was revealed by chest x-ray.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, the novel retroclavicular block offered a quick, safe, and reliable alternative for distal arm block. Further studies, comparing this approach with the classic infraclavicular block, are required to validate its efficacy, safety, and reliability.
authors.affiliation: From the Département d'Anesthésiologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Jasmin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Charbonneau
authors.forename: Yannick
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fréchette
authors.forename: Yanick
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sansoucy
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Echave
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001340:Autonomic Nerve Block / Q000379:methods*; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects; D002968:Clavicle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008619:Mepivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D008619:Mepivacaine