Comparison of Costoclavicular and Paracoracoid Approaches to Infraclavicular Brachial Plexus Blocks

Infraclavicular block has taken its place in the literature as a proven technique in the anesthetic management of upper extremity surgeries. Compared to general anesthesia; The prominent advantages of regional anesthesia are that it provides longer perioperative pain control, reduces the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, reduces opioid consumption and reduces the cost of hospitalization. The widespread use of ultrasonography (USG) in the last two decades has facilitated the application of the method and allowed the investigation of different injection methods.

Regional blocks are planned according to the surgery to be performed. For anesthesia of arm, forearm and hand operations; brachial plexus can be blocked in the axillary, infraclavicular, supraclavicular or interscalene region. The infraclavicular technique, on the other hand, is roughly divided into three types: costoclavicular lateral, costoclavicular medial and paracoracoid (Lateral sagittal). The image obtained by placing the ultrasonography probe in the relevant anatomical region serves as a guide for the orientation of the peripheral block needle and performing the intervention by observing the vascular structures in the existing region provides a great advantage in terms of patient safety.

In this study, we aimed to examine 3 different infraclavicular block methods; lateral costoclavicular, medial costoclavicular and lateral sagittal (Paracoracoid) approach, in terms of ease of application and motor/sensory block efficiency. Our hypothesis is that the sensory block will begin in a shorter time with costoclavicular methods compared to the lateral sagittal method. We are also planning to compare performance difficulties (needle maneuver numbers, subjective block exertion, block performance time etc.) for each type of intervention.