Continuous brachial plexus block for replantation in the upper extremity.

For replantation surgery, continuous brachial plexus block was employed using supraclavicular or axillary approach. Of a total of fifty blocks, forty-seven (94%) gave adequate surgical analgesia throughout the operations. No serious complication appeared in this series. Pneumothorax was detected in one supraclavicular block, but no surgical drainage was required. One patient had paraesthesia in the blocked arm, but it subsided within a month. No toxic reaction was recognised in spite of high dose of anaesthetic agents. Thus continuous brachial plexus block has been ascertained to be safe, reliable, and useful for the replantation and other prolonged operations in the upper extremity.