BACKGROUND: To identify trends in injuries and substandard care associated with anesthesia, we analyzed the Korean Society of Anesthesiologists database for anesthesia-related case files from July 2009 to June 2018. METHODS: Case characteristics, injuries, and outcomes were compared between the first part (July 2009–June 2014, n = 105) and the second part (July 2014–June 2018, n = 92) of the analyzed time period. RESULTS: Overall, 132 cases resulted in death. The proportion of fatal cases for sedation was similar to general anesthesia (66.2% vs. 76.3%). The proportion of cases with permanent injury or death decreased significantly in the second part of the period compared with the first part (76.1% vs. 93.3%, P = 0.002). With a growing trend in the proportion of sedation cases, a similar number of sedation and general anesthesia cases were referred during the overall period (77 and 76 cases, respectively). Propofol-based regimens remained the dominant sedation method (89.7% in the first part vs. 78.9% in the second part). The most common adverse event in cases of permanent injury or death was identified as being respiratory in origin (98/182, 53.8%). Permanent injuries or deaths were related to local anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST) and beach-chair positioning for shoulder surgery, in 8 and 5 cases, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the decreasing trend in injury severity with time, several characteristic injury profiles were identified: lack of vigilance in propofol-based sedation, neurological injuries related to the beach-chair position, and LAST occurring during tumescent anesthesia or brachial plexus block.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Brachial Plexus Block ; Dissent and Disputes ; Malpractice ; Methods ; Shoulder

BACKGROUND: The breast is innervated by the intercostal nerves and the brachial plexus. We propose a technique to perform breast surgery without general anesthesia using the erector spinae plane (ESP) block and selective block of four nerves that arise from the brachial plexus innervate the breast and the axilla (SBP block). CASE: A 77-year-old man with breast cancer was scheduled for radical mastectomy and axillary clearance. He had a previous history of myocardial infarction with dilated cardiomyopathy and severely impaired ejection fraction. The surgery was performed under regional anesthesia with combined ESP and SBP block. The patient did not require opioids or other supplemental analgesics intra- or postoperatively and was discharged uneventfully. CONCLUSIONS: SBP is a novel block that selectively blocks branches of the brachial plexus that innervate the breast.
Aged ; Analgesics ; Analgesics, Opioid ; Anesthesia, Conduction ; Anesthesia, General ; Axilla ; Brachial Plexus Block ; Brachial Plexus ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; Humans ; Intercostal Nerves ; Mastectomy, Radical ; Myocardial Infarction

BACKGROUND: Phase-lag entropy (PLE) was recently described as a measurement of temporal pattern diversity in the phase relationship between two electroencephalographic signals from prefrontal and frontal montages. This study was performed to evaluate the performance of PLE for assessing the depth of sedation. METHODS: Thirty adult patients undergoing upper limb surgery with a brachial plexus block were administered propofol by target-controlled infusion. The depth of sedation was assessed using the Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation (OAA/S) scale. The effect-site concentration (Ce) of propofol was initially started at 0.5 μg/ml and was increased in increments of 0.2 μg/ml until an OAA/S score of 1 was reached. Three minutes after the target Ce was reached, the PLE, bispectral index (BIS), and level of sedation were assessed. Correlations between the OAA/S score and PLE or BIS were determined. The prediction probabilities (P(k)) of PLE and BIS were also analyzed. RESULTS: The PLE values were closely correlated with the OAA/S scores (Spearman's Rho = 0.755; P < 0.001) to an extent comparable with the correlation between the BIS and OAA/S score (Spearman's Rho = 0.788; P < 0.001). The P(k) values of PLE and BIS were 0.731 and 0.718, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: PLE is a new and reliable consciousness monitoring system for assessing the depth of sedation induced by propofol, which is comparable with the BIS.
Adult ; Brachial Plexus Block ; Consciousness Monitors ; Electroencephalography ; Entropy ; Humans ; Propofol ; Upper Extremity

BACKGROUND: Iliac crest bone graft (ICBG) harvesting is associated with significant perioperative pain and opioid consumption. This randomized controlled trial sought to determine if the transversalis fascia plane (TFP) block provides effective analgesia for anterior ICBG harvesting. METHODS: Fifty patients undergoing wrist fusion surgery with anterior ICBG harvesting were randomized to receive a TFP block with either 20 ml of 0.5% ropivacaine or 5% dextrose. Patients additionally received a brachial plexus block for primary surgical-site anesthesia and either a general or spinal anesthetic depending on patient preference. Primary outcomes of interest were perioperative opioid consumption (measured as intravenous morphine equivalents [IME]), pain intensity at the ICBG harvest site for up to 48 h postoperatively, and the incidence of persistent postoperative pain at 6 and 12 months after surgery. RESULTS: The TFP group used less opioid in the post-anesthetic care unit (PACU) (median 0 vs. 2.5 mg IME, P = 0.01) and in the first 8 h following PACU discharge (median 2.5 vs. 13.0 mg IME, P = 0.02). The patients who received a TFP block also had lower pain scores in PACU (median 0 vs. 4.0 out of 10, P < 0.001). Although opioid consumption and pain scores were lower in the TFP group at later timepoints, this difference was not statistically significant. Persistent pain at the ICBG site was reported in only 4.3% and 6.5% of all patients at 6 and 12 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The TFP block provides effective early analgesia for anterior ICBG harvesting. The incidence of persistent postoperative pain was low.
Analgesia ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Local ; Brachial Plexus Block ; Fascia ; Glucose ; Humans ; Incidence ; Morphine ; Nerve Block ; Pain, Postoperative ; Patient Preference ; Transplants ; Wrist

OBJECTIVE: Recently, the cases about successful regional anesthesia using combined superficial cervical plexus block and interscalene brachial plexus block for clavicle surgery have been reported. The aim of this study was to compare regional anesthesia using combined superficial cervical plexus block and interscalene brachial plexus block with general anesthesia. METHODS: In this prospective randomized study, 26 patients scheduled for elective clavicle surgery were divided into two groups: the first group was general anesthesia group (GA group, n=13) and the second group for peripheral nerve block group (PNB group, n=13). Standardized general anesthesia was done to the patients assigned to the GA group and ultrasonography-guided combined superficial cervical plexus block and interscalene brachial plexus block was done to the patients assigned to the PNB group. Postoperative sedation scale was assessed at post-anesthesia care unit, and pain scale using 10-cm Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was assessed at immediate postoperative, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 6 hours, and 24 hours. Patients needed additional analgesics, and time for first analgesic demand and duration from surgery to discharge was recorded. RESULTS: The pain VAS scales were less in PNB group than GA group from immediate postoperative time to 6 hours. The patients' immediate postoperative sedation scale less than 4 were significantly less in PNS group than GA group. The duration from surgery to discharge was shorter in PNS group than GA group. CONCLUSION: Regional anesthesia using combined superficial cervical plexus block and interscalene brachial plexus block is a successful alternative to general anesthesia for clavicle surgery.
Analgesics ; Anesthesia, Conduction ; Anesthesia, General ; Brachial Plexus Block ; Brachial Plexus ; Cervical Plexus Block ; Cervical Plexus ; Clavicle ; Humans ; Peripheral Nerves ; Prospective Studies ; Visual Analog Scale ; Weights and Measures

BACKGROUND: Pediatric patients awakening from general anesthesia may experience emergence delirium (ED), often due to inadequate pain control. Nerve block completely inhibits innervation of the surgical site and is superior to systemic analgesics. This study assessed whether pain control through nerve block relieves ED after general anesthesia. METHODS: Fifty patients aged 2–7 years with humerus condyle fractures were randomly assigned to receive ultrasound guided supraclavicular brachial plexus block (BPB group) or intravenous fentanyl (Opioid group). The primary outcome was score on the pediatric anesthesia emergence delirium (PAED) scale on arrival at the postanesthesia care unit (PACU). Secondary outcomes were severity of agitation and pain in the PACU, the incidence of ED, and postoperative administration of rescue analgesics over 24 h. RESULTS: PAED scale was significantly lower in the BPB group at arrival in the PACU (7.2 ± 4.9 vs. 11.6 ± 3.2; mean difference [95% confidence interval (CI)] = 4.4 [2.0–6.8], P < 0.001) and at all other time points. The rate of ED was significantly lower in the BPB group (36% vs. 72%; relative risk [95% CI] = 0.438 [0.219–0.876], P = 0.023). The BPB group also had significantly lower pain scores and requiring rescue analgesics than Opioid group in the PACU. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound guided BPB, which is a good option for postoperative acute phase pain control, also contributes to reducing the severity and incidence of ED.
Analgesics ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Brachial Plexus Block ; Brachial Plexus ; Child ; Delirium ; Dihydroergotamine ; Fentanyl ; Humans ; Humerus ; Incidence ; Nerve Block ; Pain, Postoperative ; Ultrasonography

This paper reports the use of a traction device for the treatment of neglected proximal interphalangeal fracture dislocations. A 44-year-old man with a fracture dislocation of a right ring finger proximal interphalangeal joint was admitted 17 days after the injury. Closed reduction and external fixation were performed using a dynamic traction device and C-arm under a brachial plexus block. Passive range of motion exercise was started after two weeks postoperatively and active range of motion exercise was started after three weeks. The traction device was removed after five weeks. No infection occurred during the traction period. No subluxation or displacement was observed on the X-ray taken two months postoperatively. The active range of motion of the proximal interphalangeal joint was 90°. The patient was satisfied with the functional result of the treatment with the traction device. The dynamic traction device is an effective treatment for neglected fracture dislocations of the proximal interphalangeal joint of a finger.
Adult ; Brachial Plexus Block ; Dislocations ; External Fixators ; Fingers ; Humans ; Joints ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Traction

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of ultrasound-guided interscalene brachial plexus block and C5-6 nerve root block for analgesia after shoulder arthroscopy. METHODS: In the study, 40 patients of ASA I-II were selected for elective general anesthesia to repair the shoulder ligament rupture in Peking University Third Hospital, who were randomly divided into two groups, respectively for the intermuscular brachial plexus block group (group I) and C5-6 nerve root block group (group C), n=20. The forty patients underwent ultrasound-guided brachial plexus block or C5-6 nerve root block before general anesthesia. Group I: 0.2% ropivacaine 10 mL was injected into brachial plexus intermuscular approach; Group C: 0.2% ropivacaine 10 mL was injected around the nerve roots of C5 and C6, and the ultrasound images showed that the liquid wrapped nerve roots. The time of sensory and motor block after puncture, operation time, the time of postoperative analgesia, numerical rating scale (NRS) scores at 1, 6, 12, and 24 h postoperatively and the finger movements were recorded. The adverse drug reactions and the patient satisfaction were recorded. The primary end point was the study of shoulder rest and movement pain in the patients with postoperative nerve blockage; the secondary end point was the patient's limb movements and thepatient satisfaction. RESULTS: The duration of analgesia was (571.50±70.11) min in group I and (615.60±112.15) min in group C, and there was no difference between the two groups (P>0.05). The static and dynamic NRS scores at 1, 6, and 12 h in group C were lower than those in group I (P<0.05). There was no difference in static and dynamic NRS scores between the two groups during 24 hours (P>0.05). There was a significant difference in grade of muscle strength between group C [5(4,5)] and group I [4(2,4)] in the patients with nerve block hind limb (P<0.01), and there were significant differences between the two groups' sensation in the radial nerve group C [1(0,2)] and group I [2(1,2)], the median nerve group C [0(0,2)] and group I [2(1,2)], and the ulnar nerves group C [0(0,1)] and group I [1(1,2)] (P<0.01). There was no statistical difference between the two groups in the sencation of the shoulder, group C 2(1,2) and group I 2(1,2) , P>0.05. Compared with group I 8(6,9), group C 9(8,10) was a significant difference in satisfaction (P<0.01). CONCLUSION Interscalene brachial plexus block and C5-6 nerve root block could satisfy the needs of analgesia after shoulder arthroscopy, but C5-6 nerve root blockage does not limit the limb activity, the numbness is less, and the patient's satisfaction is higher.
Amides ; Analgesia ; Anesthetics, Local ; Arthroscopy ; Brachial Plexus ; Brachial Plexus Block ; Humans ; Nerve Block ; Pain, Postoperative ; Shoulder

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound-guided interscalene brachial plexus block (US-ISB) has been reported to be effective postoperative analgesia for arthroscopic shoulder surgery. Although considered rare, various neurological complications have been reported. We retrospectively evaluated 668 patients for post operation neurological symptoms including hemidiaphragmatic paresis and post-operative neurologic symptoms after US-ISB. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review of 668 patients undergoing shoulder surgery with single-shot US-ISB from January 2010 to May 2015. The general anesthesia prior to the US-guided ISB procedure was standardized by expert anesthesiologists. Neurological postoperative complications were evaluated at 48 hours, about 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and up to resolution after operation. RESULTS: Three patients (0.4%) developed hemidiaphragmatic paresis (HDP), which were likely US-ISB associated and improved within 1 day. Two patients developed sensory symptoms, also likely US-ISB associated; one was paresthesia at the tip of the thumb/index finger, which resolved within 2 weeks, and the other was hypoesthesia involving the posterior auricular nerve, which resolved within 6 months. Motor and sensory symptoms which were not likely associated with US-ISB were hypoesthesia and pain (n = 28, 4.6%) and motor weakness (n = 2, 0.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Incidence of HDP and neurological complications, respectively 0.4% and 0.3%, related to transient minor sensory symptoms occurred after US-ISB for arthroscopic shoulder surgery but the complications improved spontaneously. Therefore, we confirm that the US-ISB procedure with low volumes of local anesthetics is an acceptable technique with a low rate of HDP and neurological complications.
Analgesia ; Anesthesia and Analgesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Anesthetics, Local ; Arthroscopy ; Brachial Plexus Block ; Fingers ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Incidence ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Paresis ; Paresthesia ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies* ; Shoulder* ; Ultrasonography*

Supraclavicular brachial plexus block, due to its wide range of indications, is the most widely practiced procedure in anesthesiology. We experienced the case of a 45-year-old female patient who developed unilateral Horner's Syndrome after the use of supraclavicular brachial plexus block. The patient recovered spontaneously from the Horner's syndrome after 2 hours. If Horner's syndrome should occur, its etiology will need to be assessed. It is also important to assure the patient they will recover from the complication within a year.
Anesthesiology ; Brachial Plexus Block* ; Brachial Plexus* ; Female ; Horner Syndrome* ; Humans ; Middle Aged