Bloqueo ecoguiado del canal del aductor: ¿puede el abordaje del eje corto oblicuo facilitar la inserción del catéter perineural? Estudio controlado aleatorizado

Abstract

Introduction

The transverse short-axis in-plane is the standard approach for ultrasound-guided perineural catheter insertion and threading during adductor canal block (BCA). We hypothesized that the oblique short-axis in-plane approach could simplify and speed up catheter insertion and threading by eliminating some technical difficulties.

Methods

We included 50 patients aged ≥ 18 years, ASA I and II, who were scheduled for unilateral knee arthroscopy under spinal anesthesia. We planned to use BCA with a perineural catheter for postoperative analgesia. After administering spinal anesthesia, the patients were randomly assigned to the oblique (oblique short-axis in-plane approach) or transverse (standard short-axis in-plane approach) groups. The primary endpoint was catheter insertion time. The secondary endpoints were catheter threading difficulty, and incidence of vascular puncture and catheter migration.

Results

The catheter insertion time was significantly shorter in the oblique group vs the transverse group (113.8 ± 49.2 s vs 185.8 ± 46.7 s, respectively, P < .001). Catheter threading was significantly easier in the oblique group, as shown by the lower threading difficulty score compared to the transverse group. Both groups were comparable in terms of the incidence of vascular puncture and catheter migration.

Conclusion

In patients who underwent knee arthroscopy under spinal anesthesia, the oblique short-axis in-plane approach for catheter insertion during BCA was faster and less technically challenging than the standard transverse short-axis in-plane approach.