The clinical observation of the effect of subcoracoid brachial plexus block using nerve stimulator

Objective To observe the clinical effect of subcoracoid brachial plexus block using nerve stimulator.Methods Sixty ASA physical status class Ⅰ-lⅡ patients scheduled for forearm surgery were randomized into two groups:subcoracoid group (group A) and axillary group (group B).The initial current of nerve stimulator was set to be 1 mA and the frequency was 2 Hz.In group A,0.5％ levobupivacaine 10 ml was injected respectively at the sites of muscle twitch induced by median,ulnar and radial nerve still can be seen when the current was lowered to 0.5 mA.In group B,same local anesthetics 30 ml was injected at the site of most intense pulse of axillary artery.The onset and anesthetic time were recorded.The success rate and degree of satisfaction were compared as well.Results The onset time of group A was shorter than that of group B (P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in anesthetic time between groups.The success rate in group A was 93.3％-100％,which was significantly higher than that of group B (P＜0.05).Side effect in both groups was similar.Degree of satisfaction in group A was higher than that in group B (P＜ 0.05).Conclusions Subcoracoid brachial plexus block using nerve stimulation technique is easy to perform,having shorter onset time and higher success rate. Key words: Nerve stimulator;  Coracoid;  Brachial plexus;  Levobupivacaine