Anesth Analg 2008; 106:1015-1016
© 2008 International Anesthesia Research Society
doi: 10.1213/ane.0b013e318161528a
ANALGESIA
A Novel Approach for Assessing Catheter Position After Ultrasound-Guided Placement of Continuous Interscalene Block
Jeffrey D. Swenson, MD,
Jennifer J. Davis, MD, and
Jennifer A. DeCou, MD
From the Department of Anesthesiology, University of Utah Health Science Center and University of Utah Orthopaedic Center, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Address Correspondence to Jeffrey D. Swenson, MD, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Utah, Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT 84132. Address e-mail to jeff.swenson{at}hsc.utah.edu.
Abstract
The increasing use of ultrasound has allowed anesthesiologists to perform nerve blocks with a high success rate and without nerve stimulation or eliciting a paresthesia. The ability to visualize peripheral nerve catheters using ultrasound is limited. We present a novel method to confirm the position of an interscalene catheter tip using injection of agitated contrast. The described technique is simple and allows timely assessment of catheter tip position.
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