Our Ultrasound Guided Obturator Block Experience in Kocaeli University Hospital in the Last Year
Can Aksu1, Yavuz Gürkan2, Alparslan Kuş2, Kamil Toker2, Mine Solak2
1Darıca Farabi State Hospital
2Department Of Anesthesiology And Reanimation, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey
Keywords: Obturator nerve block, ultrasound, transurethral surgery
Abstract
Objectives:
Obturator nerve block has been described and performed to prevent the obturator reflex during transurethral resection. Different techniques were found since then. We are using the interadductor approach in our clinic. We aimed to find out the outcomes of our practice in this study.
Material Methods:
After obtaining the ethical approval of the committee, files of patients, who had transurethral resection surgery between October 2013-October 2014, were scanned retrospectively.
Results:
A total of 137 patients were found to have transurethral resection. Number of patients who had combination of spinal anesthesia with obturator nerve block for the operation was 69. All of the obturator nerve blocks were done under the ultrasound guidance with interradductor approach. It was found that the obturator nerve block was unsuccessful in two patients due to observation of the obturator reflex. All the operations were done without any complication in all patients.
Conclusions:
Obturator nerve block is an effective method for preventing the obturator reflex. Combination of obturator nerve block and spinal anesthesia seems to be a safe method for surgical anesthesia in transurethral surgeries. Ultrasound guidance in obturator nerve block helps to increase the block success rates and gives additional advantages for patient’s safety.