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In Vivo Electrophysiological Measurements on Mouse Sciatic Nerves
Published on: April 13, 2014
Intraneural catheterization of the sciatic nerve in humans: a pilot study
Jaime Rodríguez1, Manuel Taboada, Miguel Blanco
1Department of Anesthesiology, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago, Santiago de Compostela, Spain. jaime_rodriguez_garcia@yahoo.es
Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
|August 5, 2008
Summary
Intraneural catheterization of the sciatic nerve, identified by early nerve blockade after local anesthetic injection, may be common. This pilot study found no nerve injury in patients with intraneural catheter placement.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Neurology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Intraneural injection of local anesthetics is observed in human imaging studies.
- The frequency of intraneural catheterization remains unknown.
- Early neural blockade may indicate unintended intraneural catheter placement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clinical effect of a small local anesthetic dose via a stimulating sciatic catheter.
- To assess sciatic nerve catheter tip placement using computed tomography (CT) scans.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive study involving 45 patients undergoing hallux valgus repair.
- Injection of 3-5 mL of 1.5% mepivacaine through a stimulating sciatic catheter.
- CT scans of the thighs were performed in 10 patients to evaluate catheter tip position.
Main Results:
- Nine of 45 patients experienced early neural blockade within 5 minutes.
- A statistically significant lower stimulating current intensity was noted in patients with early blockade.
- CT scans revealed clear intraneural catheter placement in 3 of 10 cases.
- No postoperative sequelae were observed in any patients.
Conclusions:
- Intraneural catheterization of the sciatic nerve appears to be a frequent occurrence.
- Under the study's conditions, intraneural catheterization did not result in nerve injury.
