Brachial plexus block anesthesia - complications

There are many surgeons who favor a single shot or continuous brachial plexus block. We are not among them. Here are some of the reasons.

Continuous versus single shot brachial plexus block and their relationship to discharge barriers and length of stay

These authors conducted a retrospective review of 697 patients undergoing upper extremity arthroplasty comparing the rate of complications and incidence of potential barriers to discharge and length of stay of patients receiving continuous vs. single-shot perineural brachial plexus block.

The complication rate was 12% (n=63) for the indwelling group and 17% (n=30) for the single-shot group.

The majority of complications were pulmonary, 72% attributable to oxygen desaturation. The indwelling catheter group had 1.61 times higher odds (95% confidence interval, 1.07-2.42; P = .023) of exhibiting any potential barrier to discharge and exhibited a longer length of stay (P = .002).

Our thoughts on interscalene block anesthetics can be viewed here:

Why not just do an interscalene nerve block anesthetic?

and here

The types and severity of complications associated with interscalene brachial plexus block anesthesia: local and national evidence.

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