Journal of vascular surgery
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Ultrasound-guided infraclavicular brachial plexus block enhances postoperative blood flow in arteriovenous fistulas.
Brachial plexus block offers several advantages when creating vascular access for hemodialysis. However, no controlled studies have directly evaluated arteriovenous fistula (AVF) blood flow in patients anesthetized by this method. We compared the effects of ultrasound-guided, infraclavicular brachial plexus block and local infiltration anesthesia on blood flow in the radial artery and AVF during the early and late postoperative periods. ⋯ When used for AVF access surgery, infraclavicular brachial plexus block provides higher blood flow in the radial artery and AVF than is achieved with infiltration anesthesia.