Hemidiaphragmatic Paresis Can Be Avoided in Ultrasound-Guided Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block

Background and Objectives:

Supraclavicular brachial plexus block is associated with 50% to 67% incidence of hemidiaphragmatic paresis as a result of phrenic nerve block. We examined whether ultrasound-guided compared with nerve stimulation supraclavicular brachial plexus block using 0.75% ropivacaine results in a lower incidence of hemidiaphragmatic paresis.

Methods:

In a prospective randomized observer-blinded controlled...