Major complications after 400 continuous popliteal sciatic nerve blocks for post‐operative analgesia

Abstract

Major complications after the use of CPSN are not in fact rare. The incidence of severe neuropathy or infection complications is, respectively, 0.50% and 0.25%. However, the insertion of CPSN could be considered effective and is associated with only a few minor complications.

Pain management after ambulatory surgery

“…Three patients had neurological sequelae which all resolved by 6 months. In another case series involving 400 continuous poplitealsciatic nerve blocks for postoperative analgesia, the incidence of severe neuropathy or infection complications was 0.5 and 0.25%, respectively [53]. These results are in line with previous case series [54,55].…”

Perineural Ultrasound-Guided Catheter Bacterial Colonization

“…3,4 This technique was initially developed for central venous catheters culture with 97.5% sensitivity and 80% specificity when the tip culture yielded at least 1000 colony-forming units/mL. 10 Some studies 2,5 used a semiquantitative technique, and others 7,13,14 did not detail the technique used, thus introducing a bias in the comparison of results.…”

Recommandations concernant l’hygiène lors de la réalisation des blocs nerveux périphériques sous échoguidage avec mise en place de cathéter

“…Compère et al [6] rapportent un cas d'abcès grave de la cuisse à Staphylococcus aureus dans une série de 400 blocs sciatiques continus. La même équipe [7] rapporte un cas d'abcès de la cuisse après un bloc sciatique continu.…”

“…Il est difficile de sensibiliser les anesthésistes à l'importance des mesures de prévention du risque infectieux [11]. Cependant, le risque infectieux existe [6,11] et les conséquences peuvent en être graves [8]. Quelques mesures d'hygiène simples peuvent diminuer d'une façon significative ce risque.…”