[A rare complication of regional anesthesia]

A prolonged blockade of the brachial plexus by a subclavicular approach was performed in a 22-year-old patient with combined trauma and severe pain in the left arm. The administration of 20 ml of a 0.3% dicaine solution through a catheter led to spinal anesthesia accompanied by the development of transient hemodynamic and respiration disturbances, which were arrested without medication or controlled lung ventilation. A possible reason for this complication is traumatic plexitis. When performing a blockade of the brachial plexus one should administer a test dose of an anesthetic prior to the entire drug dosage.