Abstract:
Aim: To study the features of local anesthetic solution spreading during sciatic nerve block in dependence on the anesthetic solution volume. Material and Methods: One hundred and sixty nine cases of sciatic nerve blocks done under ultrasonic visualization control were analyzed. Sciatic nerve blocks were performed by lidocaine in volumes
30; 25; 20; 15; 12.5; 10; 7.5; 6.5; 5; 4.5 ml. The cross-section area, equal to local anesthetic spreading, was determined; the extension of the anesthetic solution spreading along sciatic nerve was calculated. Results: The anesthetic agent solution spreads along sciatic nerve in proximal and distal direction, forming a kind of cylinder.
The minimum volume of the local anesthetic, which covers sciatic nerve in the whole, is 5 ml. A rare (1.77%) variation of sciatic nerve structure was described, in which tibial and common peroneal nerves develop directly from the branches of sacral plexus. Conclusion: The decrease of the local anesthetic volume leads to reduction of its spreading distance and cross-section area. Ultrasonic visualization can provide for sciatic nerve anatomical peculiarities, which can have an effect on the block quality.
