Coracoid versus lateral sagittal infraclavicular block

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare block performance time and secondarily success rates of coracoid block (CB) and lateral sagittal infraclavicular block (LSIB). Methods: This prospective study included 100 adult patients scheduled for upper limb surgery. Patients were randomly allocated to receive either a CB or LSIB. A local anesthetic mixture of 20 ml of levobupivacaine 5 mg/ml and 20 ml of lidocaine 20 mg/ml with 5 μg/ml epinephrine (total 40 ml) was administered after obtaining either a median, ulnar or radial nerve type response. Sensory block was tested at 10-minute intervals for 40 min. Results: Block performance time (CB Group: 5.2±1.9 min, LSIB Group: 5.5±1.4 min) and block success rate (CB Group: 86%, LSIB Group: 92%) were similar in both groups. In the LSIB group, sensory block of the ulnar nerve at 10, 20 and 30 minutes and at the radial nerve at 20 minutes was significantly more intense than the CB group (p 0.05). There were four vascular punctures in the LSIB group. Conclusion: Both block techniques were effective and performed in a similar time period.