Interscalene regional anesthesia for arthroscopic shoulder surgery: a safe and effective technique

There has been resistance to the use of interscalene regional block for arthroscopic shoulder surgery because of concerns about potential complications and failed blocks with the subsequent need for general anesthesia. The purpose of this study was to assess whether interscalene regional block is safe and effective and offers many advantages over general anesthesia for outpatient arthroscopic shoulder surgery. Through a retrospective chart review of consecutive arthroscopic shoulder surgeries over a 2.5-year time period, in a tertiary university medical center with an anesthesiology residency, 277 interscalene blocks (96%) were successful; 12 (4%) required general anesthesia because of an inadequate block. There were no seizures, pneumothoraces, cardiac events, or other major complications. There was a 1% rate of minor complications, all of which were transient sensory neuropathies that resolved within 5 weeks on average. We conclude that interscalene block can provide effective anesthesia for arthroscopic shoulder surgery.