[The use of 2-chloroprocaine for a combined lumbar plexus and sciatic nerve block]

A combination of the lumbar plexus and sciatic nerve blocks using 2-chloroprocaine (2-CP) for unilateral lower extremity anaesthesia was studied. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the efficacy of 2-CP for ambulatory surgery of short duration with this combination of blocks. Twenty-five patients ASA 1 and 2 were studied. The techniques used have been described by Winnie and Labat. A total dose of 60 ml of 2-CP 3% was injected. Latency time before anaesthesia was approximately seven min for the lumbar plexus and 14 min for the sciatic nerve. The mean duration of the motor block was 71 +/- 16 min, 76.8 +/- 15.3 min and 75 +/- 12.7 min for the sciatic, femoral and obturator nerves respectively. The mean duration of the sensory block was 88.7 +/- 20.9 min, 83.3 +/- 16.4, 79.7 +/- 17.8 min and 93.7 +/- 22 min for the sciatic, femoral, obturator and lateral femoral cutaneous nerves respectively. Success rate was 92% and no major complication occurred. We conclude that a combination of the lumbar plexus and the sciatic nerve blocks with 2-CP is a useful technique for ambulatory surgery of short duration.