BLISTER FORMATION ON THE THUMB FOLLOWING THE 2ND INTRAVENOUS REGIONALRESERPINE IN THE HAND - CASE-REPORT

Background and Objectives. Local, not systemic, complications associat ed with intravenous regional sympathetic block (IVRS) are very rare. T he authors report the complication that occurred in a 70-year-old man who sustained an injury of the left thumb. Methods, The second IVRS us ing reserpine and lidocaine, 1 week after the first IVRS, was performe d for pain relief. Results. About 1 hour after the operation, an entir ely localized blister developed in the dorsolateral aspect of the thum b. The palmar side appeared viable 2 weeks after the operation, which guaranteed intact survival of the thumb, but 2 months later the patien t reported that he had the thumb amputated at an outside hospital. Con clusions. When IVRS is applied to the extremities with compromised vas culature, or with an altered neuroanatomy, unpredictable and counterpr oductive mishaps may occur.