A&A: The Efficacy of Skin Temperature for Block Assessment After Infraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block.
In summary, the Minville et al used an infrared “temp gun” to measure changes in skin temp following upper extremity nerve block. Increases in temperature correlated with successful nerve block with good PPV, sensitivity and specificity. NPV was 25% at 10min for a >1 degree C change in temperature. In failed blocks, no temperatures increased more than 0.5 degree celsius from baseline at >5min. (As an aside, Googling “temp gun” reveals many reasonably-priced devices!)
A couple of interesting points. First, I think this would be great for pediatric blocks, where anesthesiologists would like to know how much opioid (if any) to titrate in prior to emergence in patients receiving a block. Would also be worth repeating for blocks such as the ilioinguinal/hypogastic/TAP block in children.
Our practice commonly involves the use of intravenous anxiolytics/analgesics during block placement, especially for the more invasive perineural catheters. I don’t see that the authors used any IV agents, only skin local. How might this affect skin temperature change?
No related posts.
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
No Responses to “A&A: The Efficacy of Skin Temperature for Block Assessment After Infraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block.”
Trackbacks/Pingbacks