• A Pingsmann, K Kröger, T Patsalis, S Voges, and A Drebes.
• Department of Orthopaedics, University Hospital, Essen, Germany. pingsmann.andreas@t-online.de
• VASA. 2002 Nov 1; 31 (4): 261-4.

BackgroundThrombophlebitis (TP) is a frequent complication of the intravenous application of injection anaesthetics. We investigated the influence of different arm positions on the incidence of such a complication in patients undergoing shoulder arthroscopy.Patients And MethodsThis prospective, randomised study was done in 86 consecutive major shoulder arthroscopies. In order to evaluate the influence of different arm positions, the arm not operated on was positioned either cranial (n = 31) or caudal (n = 55) to the level of the right atrium. The number of TP in the 5 days following the arthroscopy was detected clinically and proven by ultrasound studies.Results8 TP occurred in the group of patients with caudal arm positioning and none in the other group. Statistically, the incidence of TP was not associated with the weight or the height of the patients nor with the duration of the anaesthesia or the doses of anaesthetics used in each patient (p < 0.05).ConclusionAn elevated position of the arm used for anaesthesia during shoulder arthroscopy is suggested in order to prevent TP.

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