Ultrasound-guided perivascular axillary brachial plexus block. A simple, effective and efficient procedure

Background. The perivascular axillary plexus block is an easily applicable procedure with a low risk of complications but with a high failure rate. To improve this, the standard procedure was combined with transpectoral sonography to benefit from the advantages of ultrasound, while using a nearly unchanged puncture technique. Method. The technique developed by the authors is described in this article and the success rate and the time factor were determined in a sample of 86 patients. The success rates were compared to previous rates without ultrasound and to those in the literature. Results and conclusions. The rate of complete blocks without the use of transpectoral sonography in our clinic and in the literature was approximately 72%, whereas using transpectoral ultrasound it was 96.5%. None of the 86 patients with transpectoral sonography required general anaesthesia. The onset time using transpectoral sonography was approximately 6 min. The perivascular axillary plexus block, combined with transpectoral sonography, is an effective and efficient procedure.