PSYCHOLOGICAL TOLERANCE TO LOCAL BLOCK ANESTHESIA FOR SAPHENOUS-VEIN SURGERY - STUDY OF 160 CONSECUTIVE CASES

The objective of this study was to estimate the psychological toleranc e to inguinal block anesthesia using a standard stimulus. Subjects stu died included 160 consecutive patients in whom an intervention was per formed on the greater saphenous vein at the saphenofemoral junction. T he ultimate goal was to identify the causes of intolerance to the anes thesia and to define precise contraindications. The setting was the De partment of Angiology in the Clinique Saint Pierre in Dieppe. Subjects studied were 160 consecutive patients operated on for saphenofemoral junction dysfunction. The study was done to define those who were tole rant and those who were intolerant of the local block anesthesia. A st andard stimulus was applied with an electric stimulator. A determinati on of the tolerant and intolerant patients was done by a simplified fo rm of the French version of the McGill Pain Institute questionnaire pr eviously edited by F. Boureau.(7) Of the 160 patients tested, 87% woul d choose the block anesthetic once again, and 13% regretted having acc epted that form of anesthesia.