Axillary Plexus Block

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Abstract
SUMMARY: In axillary plexus blocks employed in surgical procedures involving the upper extremity, comparisons were made between anaesthesias produced by 2% mepivacaine (Carbocaine®) with epinephrine 1:200,000 and 0.25 and 0.5% LAC‐43 (Marcaine®) with epinephrine 1:200,000, as to the effectiveness of the anaesthesia, duration of the anaesthesia, as well as the occurrence of post‐operative pain with each drug. The series of 59 blocks was divided according to the anaesthetics used into three comparable groups. The intensity of anaesthesia in various cutaneous and motor branches of the axillary plexus was used as the criterion for success of the blocks. This anatomical criterion was also compared with operability. As regards latency there are no statistically significant differences between the agents. Mepivacaine as 2% solution + epinephrine was found to be definitely more efficient than 0.5 or 0.25% LAC‐43 as regards the intensity of anaesthesia in various nerves. There were, however, no noteworthy differences in operability between mepivacaine and 0.5% LAC‐43, but 0.25% LAC‐43 proved to be unsatisfactory in this respect. The duration of both sensory and motor depression (anaesthesia) was prolonged more than twice with LAC‐43 (both 0.5 and 0.25%). The pain caused by operative trauma appeared after 12 hours with 0.5% LAC‐43 and after approx. 9 hours with 0.25% LAC‐43 and after about 3 1/2 hours with 2% mepivacaine. There were no noticeable side effects or neurological complications.

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