[Loco-regional anesthesia for surgery of limbs]

Abstract

This article is a review of recent data concerning: plexus and peripheral nerve blocks for the upper and lower limbs, intravenous regional anesthesia, and medullary, epidural and spinal anaesthesia. We have focused on the advantages and disadvantages of each technique which should be taken into account for their selection. Regional anaesthesia techniques are not without risks, and advantages are perhaps not as obvious now as was reported in the past, especially in the case of medullary spinal or peridural anaesthesia.