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Abstract
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Background and Aims Shoulder surgery can be associated with severe postoperative pain. The shoulder is innervated by both cervical and brachial plexuses. Shoulder arthroscopy is conducted via two or three ports with patient placed on beach chair position. Interscalene brachial plexus blockade is used to provide anaesthesia and analgesia and is considered as the regional technique of choice. Our objective was to present a series of cases of shoulder surgery performed under interscalene brachial plexus block in a tertiary hospital in Qatar.
Methods Following departmental approval, we undertook a retrospective study of all patients undergone shoulder surgery. Data was retrieved from the electronic Patient Record System. Patients’ demographics, type of surgery, mode of anaesthesia and time to first analgesic use were collected.
Results 126 patients have undergone shoulder surgery over 3 years period (2021 – 2023). All patients were assessed in anaesthesia clinic and consented to have interscalene block as a sole anaesthetic. The attending anaesthesiologist performed ultrasound guided interscalene block in a dedicated block room with standard monitoring in place. 20 -30 milliliters of a mixture of levobupivacaine 0.5% and lignocaine 2% was used in all patients based on body weight. Intraoperative sedation was based on patient factors and surgical procedure. All surgical procedures were performed by a single surgeon. Demographic data and data related to type of surgery and mode of anaesthesia are presented in tables.
Conclusions Interscalene block represent an optimum mode of anaesthesia for shoulder arthroscopic surgery and is associated with lesser opioid use and no reported major complications.
Beach chair position
Interscalene block anesthesia