BRACHIAL-PLEXUS BLOCK - A COMPARISON OF THE SUPRACLAVICULAR LATERAL PARAVASCULAR AND AXILLARY APPROACHES

Background and Objectives, Anesthesia of the brachial plexus has been associated with injuries to adjacent structures (e.g., pneumothorax, v ascular penetration). It is not uncommon to have only partial block of the upper extremity, hindering completion of the surgical procedure. The supraclavicular lateral paravascular approach to brachial plexus a nesthesia has been proposed as an effective, safe alternative to the t raditional approaches to brachial plexus anesthesia. Methods. This pro spective, randomized study sought to determine if the supraclavicular lateral paravascular (SCLP) approach is as effective as the transarter ial axillary approach, the most common brachial plexus block used at o ur institution. Results. 16/20 (80%) of SCLP blocks were good. 13/20 a xillary blocks were good. The success rate with the SCLP approach was 95%. The success rate with the axillary approach was 90%. Conclusions. The supraclavicular lateral paravascular approach is as effective as the axillary approach.