How safe is Biers Block in the accident and emergency department?

We report on the use of Biers Block in an accident and emergency department carried out during the period 1987 to 1994. A total of 915 procedures were carried out, of which 815 (98%) involved emergency procedures. The age of patients ranged between 17 and 92 years. Acceptability by the patients was uniformly good. We feel it is a useful method of producing analgesia in the limb that does require training but no extensive experience or anaesthetists' expertise.