Retrospective evaluation of peripheral nerve block methods performed i̇n our clinic: A THREE-YEAR analysis

Peripheral nerve blocks are one of the significant regional anesthesia techniques, which are generally applied to the nerves innervating the upper and lower extremities, for anesthesia and for the treatment of acute and chronic pain. The most important advantage of peripheral nerve blocks is that the block effect is limited to the area innervated by the nerve. For these reason, in recent years, peripheral nerve blocks have become alternative methods to both general anesthesia and central blocks. It was aimed to investigate the effects of the methods used in peripheral nerve blocks performed in our clinic on the type of surgery, anesthesia risk and hospital stay by examining the length of hospital stay, comorbidity status, ASA risk scores, whether additional medication is required and the demographic data of the patients who underwent peripheral block. The patients were seperated into two groups as upper extremity and lower extremity according to the extremity with peripheral block. Each group was seperated into 3 subgroups as soft tissue surgery, bone surgery and amputation. Age, gender, ASA classification, operation time, hospital stay, comorbid diseases, requested consultations, perioperative complications, diagnoses and additional medications of the patients were recorded. A total of 299 cases were included in the study. Of these, 164 were men and 135 were women. The mean age of men was 51.50±1.80, and the mean age of women was 58±1.98. The mean operation time was 60.±2,8 minutes, while it was 70±3.27 minutes in men and 60±3.42 minutes in women. While the mean hospital stay was 2±0.58 days, the longest duration according to the type of operation was in lower extremity amputation surgeries with 80 days. In the study, 11.4% of the cases were found to be ASA I, 44.5% ASA II, 34.8% ASA III and 9.4% ASA IV. When the patients were examined according to the length of hospital stay, the average length of hospital stay was 2±0.11 days in ASA I patients, 2±0,21 days in ASA II, and 4±1,11 days in ASA III and 7±3,63 in ASA IV was found. The duration of hospital stay was found to be significantly lower in ASA I and ASA II compared to the other two groups. In the study, only infraclavicular block was applied to 65 of 299 cases, axillary block was applied to 126, sciatic block was applied to 102 and femoral block was applied to 56 patients. In conclusion; It was concluded that as the risk of ASA increases, the length of stay in the hospital will increase, peripheral blocks are a safe method with minimal systemic effects and less complication rate compared to other anesthesia techniques, and should be preferred to suitable patients. Keywords: Peripheral nerve block, General anesthesia, Ulltrasonograpghy