JOURNAL HOME CME HOME THIS MONTH PAST ISSUES ETOC COLLECTIONS AUTHORS REVIEWERS EDITORIAL BOARD FEEDBACK RSS HELP
		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (9) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Neal, J. M. Articles by Polissar, N. L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Neal, J. M. Articles by Polissar, N. L. Related Collections Regional Anesthesia Economics and Health Care Research Ambulatory

---

AMBULATORY ANESTHESIA

Suprascapular Nerve Block Prolongs Analgesia After Nonarthroscopic Shoulder Surgery but Does Not Improve Outcome

Joseph M. Neal, MD^*, Susan B. McDonald, MD^*, Kathleen L. Larkin, MD^*, and Nayak L. Polissar, PhD

*Department of Anesthesiology, Virginia Mason Medical Center; and The Mountain-Whisper-Light Statistical Consulting, Seattle, Washington

Address correspondence to Joseph M. Neal, MD, 1100 Ninth Ave. (B2-AN), Seattle, WA 98101. Address e-mail to anejmn{at}vmmc.org

Suprascapular nerve block (SSNB) reportedly improves analgesia and 24-h outcomes after arthroscopic shoulder surgery performed under general anesthesia. In this study, we assessed the analgesic and clinical outcome efficacy of SSNB as an adjunct to interscalene brachial plexus block (ISB) for ambulatory nonarthroscopic shoulder surgery. Fifty patients were randomized to receive either a SSNB or sham injection as part of a standardized ISB-general anesthesia regimen. Time to first significant pain (the primary outcome measure) was significantly delayed in the SSNB group (594 ± 369 min versus 375 ± 273 min, respectively; P = 0.02). There were no other differences between groups with regard to postanesthesia recovery unit measures, 24-h assessment of pain, supplemental analgesic use, or quality of life outcomes. We conclude that adjunctive SSNB adds minimal value to a primary ISB anesthetic for nonarthroscopic shoulder surgery.

IMPLICATIONS: When used as an adjunct to an interscalene block combined with general anesthesia, suprascapular nerve block with bupivacaine moderately prolongs analgesia without improving other outcome measures after ambulatory nonarthroscopic shoulder surgery.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Q. H. De Tran, A. Clemente, J. Doan, and R. J. Finlayson Brachial plexus blocks: a review of approaches and techniques: [Les blocs du plexus brachial : compte-rendu des approches et techniques] Can J Anesth, August 1, 2007; 54(8): 662 - 674. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. F. White, H. Kehlet, J. M. Neal, T. Schricker, D. B. Carr, F. Carli, and the Fast-Track Surgery Study Group The Role of the Anesthesiologist in Fast-Track Surgery: From Multimodal Analgesia to Perioperative Medical Care Anesth. Analg., June 1, 2007; 104(6): 1380 - 1396. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Karovic, S. Blumenthal, A. Schneeberger, A. Borgeat, J. M. Neal, S. B. McDonald, and K. L. Larkin Suprascapular Nerve Block Prolongs Analgesia After Nonarthroscopic Shoulder Surgery but Does Not Improve Outcome: Suprascapular Nerve Blocked One, Two...or More Times? * Response Anesth. Analg., October 1, 2003; 97(4): 1195 - 1196. [Full Text] [PDF]

Anesthesia & Analgesia® is published for the International Anesthesia Research Society® by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins with the assistance of Stanford University Libraries' HighWire Press®. Copyright 2006 by the International Anesthesia Research Society. Online ISSN: 1526-7598   Print ISSN: 0003-2999