title: A systematic review of ultrasound-guided methods for brachial plexus blockade.
abstract: We systematically reviewed 25 randomised controlled trials of ultrasound-guided brachial plexus blockade that recruited 1948 participants: either one approach vs another (axillary, infraclavicular or supraclavicular); or one injection vs multiple injections. There were no differences in the rates of successful blockade with approach, relative risk (95% CI): axillary vs infraclavicular, 1.0 (1.0-1.1), p = 0.97; axillary vs supraclavicular, 1.0 (1.0-1.1), p = 0.68; and infraclavicular vs supraclavicular, 1.0 (1.0-1.1), p = 0.32. There was no difference in the rate of successful blockade with the number of injections, relative risk (95% CI) 1.0 (1.0-1.0), p = 0.69, for one vs multiple injections. The rate of procedural paraesthesia was less with one injection than multiple injections, relative risk (95% CI) 0.6 (0.4-0.9), p = 0.004.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Albrecht
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mermoud
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (IUMSP), Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fournier
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kern
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Pain Management, Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Kirkham
mesh_terms: D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects; D065527:Brachial Plexus Block / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local