Postoperative pain management is of major importance and the existence of a device that ensures a good analgesia in the immediate postoperative period and also removes the side effects of the systemic drugs, is becoming a necessity.
Objectives: The goal was to obtain a good quality anaesthesia and also a good postoperative analgesia by inserting a perineural catheter at the brachial plexus site.
Material and method: This study included adult patients who underwent brachial plexus anaesthesia through a perineural catheter inserted at the brachial plexus site. The perineural catheter was introduced by ultrasound guidance with neurostimulation control. After insertion, a quantity of a anaesthetic admixture of 0.4mg/kg is administered. The anaesthetic admixture contained Ropivacaine and Lidocaine, equimolar concentration of 0.5% In the postoperative period, the analgesia was ensured trough the already installed catheter. The analgesic mixture contained Ropivacaine and Lidocaine, equivalent concentrations of 0, 25%. The administration rate was 5 ml every 4 hours, starting 6 hours postoperatively.
Results: The anaesthesia, obtained through the perineural catheter, was a good quality anaesthesia ensuring both, good sensory and motor block. The feedback regarding postoperative analgesia was positive, this type of pain management being efficient and without the systemic drug side effects. This approach of brachial plexus block was accepted easily by the patients and was rated as a very satisfactory method.
Conclusions: The insertion of a perineural catheter for anaesthesia and postoperative analgesia represents a safe and efficient method of achieving both analgesia and anaesthesia.