Comparison of visibility and block success between Echoplex+® and Stimuplex®-Ultraline 360○ echogenic needles for ultrasound-guided supraclavicular brachial plexus block for upper limb surgery
Abstract
Background: Needle visibility is an important factor in the success of ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve block. This study aimed to compare needle visibility, block performance, time to perform block and the block success by the two echogenic needles, the Echoplex+® and the Stimuplex® Ultraline 360°, during ultrasound-guided supraclavicular brachial plexus block (SBPB).
Methodology: Seventy patients scheduled for upper limb surgery under SBPB were randomised into two groups: Group E (n = 35) was blocked using an Echoplex+® needle and Group S (n = 35) was blocked using a Stimuplex® Ultraline 360° needle. All patients received 20 ml of ropivacaine 0.75% using the same brand of ultrasound machine. The needle visibility, time to perform block and block success were recorded.
Results: Needle visibility was not found to be significantly different between the groups (p = 0.241). The medians of the time to perform block (11.0 [IQR 6] vs. 10.0 [IQR 4] min; p = 0.278) and the percentages of adequate blocks (p = 0.565) were also not found to be statistically significantly different.
Conclusion: No statistically significant differences, in terms of needle visibility, time to perform block and the block success, were found between the Echoplex+® and the Stimuplex® Ultraline 360° block needles during supraclavicular brachial plexus block. Hence, both were equally effective for the performance of the block.
Key words: Echogenic needle; Visibility; Ultrasound-guided; Supraclavicular block; Brachial plexus
Citation: Ismet LA, Hassan WMNW, Mazlan MZ, Mukmin LA, Chong SE, Zaini RHM. Comparison of visibility and block success between Echoplex+® and Stimuplex®-Ultraline 360○ echogenic needles for ultrasound-guided supraclavicular brachial plexus block for upper limb surgery. Anaesth. pain intensive care 2021;25(6):788–792;
Citation: July 26, 2021, Reviewed: August 02, 2021, Accepted: October 03, 2021
