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J Reconstr Microsurg 2001; 17(7): 481-486
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-17750
Copyright © 2001 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA. Tel.: +1(212) 584-4662

Continuous Cervical Epidural Anesthesia in Hand Surgery

Adnan Noyan, Selim Çepel, Savaş Ural, Ahmet Özel
  • Instanbul Hand and Microsurgery Center, Aksaray, Istanbul, Turkey
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Publication History

Publication Date:
12 October 2001 (online)

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ABSTRACT

Regional anesthesia, with its known benefits such as increased blood flow, reduced cost, and security, is a method of choice for hand surgery. Recently, the authors have switched from axillary block to continuous cervical epidural anesthesia, which has several advantages such as low cost, a pain-free postoperative period, better control of tourniquet pain, and the avoidance of a motor block so that early active motion is possible. Continuous cervical epidural anesthesia is a safe and reliable method, providing a sensory block with an infusion rate of 4 ml/hr ultracaine (articaine 2 percent), and a motor block when the dosage is increased to 8 ml/hr ultracaine (articaine 2 percent). Postoperatively, only 4 ml/hr ultracaine (articaine 2 percent) is sufficient to provide a sensory block. The method provides both good perfusion and a lower local anesthetic drug dosage than axillary block.

KEYWORD

Continuous cervical epidural anesthesia - hand surgery

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