title: The Efficacy of Femoral Block and Unilateral Spinal Anaesthesia on Analgesia, Haemodynamics and Mobilization in Patients undergoing Endovenous Ablation in the Lower Extremity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of femoral block and unilateral spinal anaesthesia on analgesia, haemodynamics and mobilization during endovenous ablation in patients with lower extremity venous insufficiency.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty patients of ASA physical status I and II, with ages ranging between 30 and 45 years, and who were scheduled for endovenous laser ablation for varicose veins were prospectively enrolled in this study. Patients were randomized into a unilateral spinal anaesthesia group (group HS, n=20) or a femoral block group (group F, n=20). Group HS received 7.5-10 mg of heavy bupivacaine for unilateral spinal anaesthesia, while group F received 100 mg prilocaine for femoral block with ultrasound guidance. The level of motor blockage (Bromage score), visual pain score, mean heart rate and mean arterial pressures were recorded at postoperative 0, 1, 2, 3d and 6 h, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Perioperative visual pain score values in both groups were <4. None of the groups required an additional analgesic agent. Bromage scores were significantly lower in group F than in group HS during the postoperative period (p<0.01). Motor function returned to normal in all patients at 3 h in group F and at 6 h in group HS. Postoperative mean heart rate and arterial pressure did not differ between the groups (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with lower extremity venous insufficiency who were undergoing endovenous laser ablation, an ultrasound-guided femoral block provided similar analgesia with that of unilateral spinal anaesthesia. In group F, the duration of anaesthesia and mobilization time was shorter.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Reanimation, Celal Bayar University School of Medicine, Manisa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Tülün
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Öztürk
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Reanimation, Celal Bayar University School of Medicine, Manisa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Eralp
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Çevikkalp
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Celal Bayar University School of Medicine, Manisa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Funda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nizamoglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Celal Bayar University School of Medicine, Manisa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Alper
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Özbakkaloğlu
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Reanimation, Celal Bayar University School of Medicine, Manisa, Turkey.
authors.forename: İsmet
authors.initials: İ
authors.lastname: Topcu
keywords: Varicose vein; laser ablation; nerve block; spinal block