Ultrasound-Guided Out-of-Plane vs. In-Plane Interscalene Catheters: A Randomized, Prospective Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Continuous interscalene blocks provide excellent analgesia after shoulder surgery. Although the safety of the ultrasound-guided in-plane approach has been touted, technical and patient factors can limit this approach. We developed a caudad-to-cephalad out-of-plane approach and hypothesized that it would decrease pain ratings due to better catheter alignment with the brachial plexus compared to the in-plane technique in a randomized, controlled study.

Objectives

To compare an out-of-plane interscalene catheter technique to the in-plane technique in a randomized clinical trial.

Patients and methods

Eighty-four patients undergoing open shoulder surgery were randomized to either the in-plane or out-of-plane ultrasound-guided continuous interscalene technique. T

SUBMITTER: Schwenk ES 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4688811 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature