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A Retrospective Comparative Study of Nerve-Stimulator Versus Ultrasound-Guided Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block
Bhumika Ashvin Raval1, Iramnaaz A Shaikh1, Nirupama A Sunasara2
1Assistant Professor, Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, Smt. G. R. Doshi and Smt. K. M. Mehta Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
Background:
Regional blocks are the preferred choice in procedures like arteriovenous fistula (AVF) creation involving the wrist or cubital fossa in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. We compared ultrasonography versus peripheral nerve stimulator-guided supraclavicular block to identify the non-inferior technique in these patients.
Materials And Methods:
This retrospective cohort analysis included 60 ESRD patients at the largest tertiary medical care centre of its kind in the world. Of these, 30 received the ultrasound-guided supraclavicular block (Group US), while the other 30 received it with the peripheral nerve stimulator technique (Group NS). Statistical analysis was done using GraphPad PRISM 10.0.0 software.
Results:
A significant difference was noted in the block execution time, onset and duration of sensory and motor block, and time to achieve a complete block in both groups.
Conclusion:
Ultrasound with nerve stimulator appears to be the technique of choice in ESRD patients.
