Korean J Anesthesiol.  1997 May;32(5):782-786. 10.4097/kjae.1997.32.5.782.

The Parascalene Technique of Brachial Plexus Block for the Operation of the Upper Extremity and Shoulder

• Kim KH
• Yoon KJ
• Kang JG
• Kim JL
• Lim CH
• Lee MW
• Park KH
• Han WH

• KMID: 2240240
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.1997.32.5.782

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Brachial plexus is invested by a fascial envelope, which forms a perineural and perivascular space that extends all the way from the cervical intervertebral foramen to the distal axilla. Therefore a single injection of a local anesthetic into any sites of this space can provide anesthesia of the entire brachial plexus. Nowadays many methods of brachial plexus block have been developed but there are some severe complications and they can't prevent tourniquet pain completely.
METHODS
We have performed parascalene technique for brachial plexus block in 206 cases from Jan., 1992 to Dec.,1994. We studied the cases retrospectively by reviewing patients' anesthesia records. The technique for parascalene block is the injection of local anesthetic solution into the lower part of the posterior triangle of the neck at the point 1.5~2.0 cm above the clavicle at the lateral border of the anterior scalene muscle.
RESULTS
We could provide the proper anesthesia for the upper extremity and shoulder operation without any remarkable complications except Honor's syndrome of 3 cases. And there were no tourniquet pain in all 96 cases who had used tourniquet.
CONCLUSIONS
The parascalene approach is the useful, safe and reliable method for brachial plexus block.

Keyword

Anesthesia technique; regional; brachial plexus; Anesthetics; local; bupivacaine; lidocaine; Complication; Honor's syndrome; Pain; tourniquet

MeSH Terms

Anesthesia
Anesthetics
Axilla
Brachial Plexus*
Bupivacaine
Clavicle
Lidocaine
Neck
Retrospective Studies
Shoulder*
Tourniquets
Upper Extremity*
Anesthetics
Bupivacaine
Lidocaine