Background: Perineural catheters (PNCs) are increasingly being used. Few data are available on the infectious complications of PNCs. The incidence and localization of local inflammation and infection associated with PNCs were assessed. Methods: PNCs placed under sterile conditions for regional anesthesia and post-operative analgesia were evaluated prospectively. Local inflammation was defined as redness, swelling or pain on pressure at the catheter insertion site. Infection was defined as purulent material at the catheter insertion site with or without the need for surgical intervention. Results: In total, 2285 PNCs were evaluated: 600 axillary, 303 interscalene, 92 infraclavicular, 65 psoas compartment, 574 femoral, 296 sciatic and 355 popliteal. Local inflammation occurred in 4.2% and infection in 3.2%. The duration of PNC placement was a risk factor (P < 0.05). Surgical intervention was necessary in 0.9%. No late complications occurred in any patient. Interscalene catheters were associated with an increased risk of infection (4.3%; P < 0.05). Anterior proximal sciatic catheters were associated with a lower risk of local inflammation (1.7%; P < 0.05) and infection (0.4%; P < 0.05). Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus were isolated in 42% and 58% of catheter tip cultures, respectively. Conclusion: In the present study population, infection of PNCs was a rare occurrence, but the incidence increased with the duration of PNC placement, and close clinical monitoring is required.
Special complications such as infections in peripheral catheter regional anesthesia are rare but can pose severe problems. A close postoperative supervision of all regional catheters has to be ensured under careful consideration of the risk factors for infections and the accompanying symptoms.
Background: Perineural catheters (PNC) are increasingly used for postoperative analgesia in orthopedic surgery. There are only few large studies looking at complications associated with regional anesthesia and the literature has mainly focused on neurologic damage, hemodynamic and cardiac events Although infection is a major issue, particularly for surgery with implantation of prosthetic material, data dealing with local inflammation and infection of PNC are still rare.Objective: The incidence, severity and localization of local inflammation and infection following the placement of various PNC were prospectively assessed. Methods:After approval from the local ethical committee and written informed consent, all PNC placed under sterile conditions for regional anesthesia and postoperative analgesia were prospectively evaluated. Local inflammation was defined as redness, swelling or pain on pressure at the catheter insertion site. Infection was defined as pus at the catheter insertion site with or without the necessity for surgical intervention. Descriptive statistics were performed and pϽ0.05 was considered significant.Results: 2285 PNC were evaluated over 24 months: 600 axillary, 303 interscalene, 92 infraclavicular, 65 psoas compartment, 574 femoral, 296 sciatic and 355 popliteal. Local inflammation occurred in 4.2% and infection in 3.2%. Surgical intervention was necessary in 0.9%. Duration of PNC was a risk factor. No late complication occurred in any patient. Interscalene catheters were associated with an increased risk of infection (4.3%). Anterior proximal sciatic catheters were associated with a lower risk of local inflammation (1.7%) and infection (0.4%). Staphylococcus epidermidis and staphylococcus aureus were isolated in 42% and 58% respectively. Conclusion:Infection of PNC is a rare occurrence but the incidence varies with the PNC localization and increases with duration. Close clinical monitoring is required.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.