Delayed respiratory depression after interscalene blockade for shoulder surgery in geriatric patients.

摘要

In our institution, as in many others, surgery on the proximal part of upper arm is usually performed under interscalene brachial plexus block (ISB) with general anesthesia (GA) upon request of the surgeon. We recently experienced three cases of delayed respiratory distress after complete recovery of uneventful anesthesia in geriatric patients who received ISB a nd GA for surgeries on the upper arm or shoulder. In all cases ISB was performed using a nerve stimulator at first attempt by the Winnie approach.