[Regional anaesthesia may be used in selected acute compartment syndrome patients.]

Acute compartment syndrome (ACS) is a serious condition which, if not treated promptly, can cause severe disability or even death. Regional anaesthesia (epidural analgesia or peripheral nerve blocks) is increasingly used in postoperative pain management in orthopaedic surgery, but has been presumed to mask the symptoms of ACS. We present a short review of the current literature relating regional anaesthesia to a delayed diagnosis of ACS and find no convincing evidence that regional anaesthesia is unsafe in patients with a high risk of ACS.
Udgivelsesdato: 2011-Jan-31