Latency of brachial plexus block The effect on onset time of warming local anaesthetic solutions

1365-2044

Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005

Medicine

A double-blind study was set up to investigate the effect of warming local anaesthetic solutions on the latency of onset of subclavian perivascular brachial plexus blocks. Twenty-four adult patients were randomly allocated into two equal groups. In group A the local anaesthetic was injected at room temperature, while in group B the local anaesthetic solution was prewarmed to 37°C in a thermostatically controlled heating block. All blocks were performed using 0.5 ml/kg of a solution prepared by mixing equal volumes of 0.5% bupivacaine with adrenaline 1:200 000, and 1% prilocaine. The speed of onset of sensory blockade was significantly increased when the temperature of the local anaesthetic solution was increased to 37°C. There were no adverse side effects in either group.

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