title: A randomised comparison between ultrasound and nerve stimulation for infraclavicular catheter placement.
abstract: We conducted this study to determine if placement of infraclavicular catheters guided by ultrasound is quicker than placement guided by nerve stimulation. Infraclavicular brachial plexus catheters were inserted in 210 randomly allocated patients who were scheduled for elective hand or elbow surgery. Needle and catheter placement was guided by ultrasound (n = 105) or by nerve stimulation (n = 105). The primary outcome was time to sensory block success. Success rate was similar between the two techniques (83.2% vs 81.4%, p = 0.738). However, placement of ultrasound-guided catheters took less time (7.2 [2.5] vs 9.6 [3.6] min, p < 0 .001). Pain and satisfaction scores, and incidence of nerve deficit, were also similar with both techniques.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Peri-operative Medicine, St. Joseph's Health Care, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dhir
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Peri-operative Medicine, St. Joseph's Health Care, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Peri-operative Medicine, St. Joseph's Health Care, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Peri-operative Medicine, St. Joseph's Health Care, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bouzari
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Peri-operative Medicine, St. Joseph's Health Care, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mall
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Peri-operative Medicine, St. Joseph's Health Care, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Peri-operative Medicine, St. Joseph's Health Care, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ganapathy
authors.affiliation: Hand and Upper Limb Centre, Department of Orthopaedics and Plastic Surgery, St. Joseph's Health Care, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: King
mesh_terms: D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D065527:Brachial Plexus Block / Q000379:methods*; D004550:Elbow / Q000601:surgery; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local