BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Peripheral nerve blockade is associated with excellent @entity1 outcomes after surgery; however, neurologic and other complications can be devastating for the @entity1 . This article reports the development and preliminary results of a multicenter audit describing the quality and safety of peripheral nerve blockade. METHODS: From January 2006 to May 2008, @entity1 who received peripheral nerve blockade had data relating to efficacy and complications entered into databases. All @entity1 who received nerve blocks performed by all anesthetists during each hospital's contributing period were included. @entity1 were followed up by phone to detect potential neurologic complications. The timing of follow-up was either at 7 to 10 days or 6 weeks postoperatively, depending on practice location and time period. Late @entity51 were defined as a new onset of sensory and/or motor deficit consistent with a nerve/plexus distribution without other identifiable cause, and one of the following: electrophysiologic evidence of @entity16 , new neurologic signs, new onset of @entity9 in a nerve distribution area, paresthesia in relevant nerve/plexus distribution area. RESULTS: A total of 6950 @entity1 received 8189 peripheral nerve or @entity616 . Of the 6950 @entity1 , 6069 @entity1 were successfully followed up. In these 6069 @entity1 , there were a total of 7156 blocks forming the denominator for late neurologic complications. Thirty @entity1 (0.5%) had clinical features requiring referral for neurologic assessment. Three of the 30 @entity1 had a block-related @entity128 , giving an incidence of 0.4 per 1000 blocks (95% confidence interval, 0.08-1.1:1000). The incidence of systemic @entity137 was 0.98 per 1000 blocks (95% confidence interval, 0.42-1.9:1000). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the incidence of serious complications after peripheral nerve blockade is uncommon and that the origin of neurologic symptoms/signs in the postoperative period is most likely to be unrelated to nerve blockade.

Preliminary results of the Australasian Regional Anaesthesia Collaboration: a prospective audit of more than 7000 peripheral nerve and XXXX for neurologic and other complications.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Patients', 'patients', 'patient'] @entity137 :: ('MESH:D064420', 'Disease') :: ['local anesthetic toxicity'] @entity16 :: ('MESH:D009422', 'Disease') :: ['nerve damage'] @entity128 :: ('MESH:D020209', 'Disease') :: ['nerve injury'] @entity51 :: ('MESH:D009461', 'Disease') :: ['neurologic deficits'] @entity9 :: ('MESH:D009437', 'Disease') :: ['neuropathic pain'] @entity616 :: ('MESH:D006327', 'Disease') :: ['plexus blocks']
@entity616 :: (MESH:D006327,Disease) :: ['plexus blocks']
