[Continuous block of the lumbar plexus with the 3-in-1-block catheter technic in pain therapy].

The evaluation of the test protocols on continuous lumbar plexus blockade using the 3-in-1 block with a lumbar plexus catheter showed the following results: The study included 104 patients. In 91.3% of cases, puncture of the fascial sheath of the femoral nerve proved successful. In 95.7% of cases, the plexus catheter could be positioned and left in place (Table 1). Four catheters had to be removed due to intravascular misplacement. Good analgesic results were achieved in 85.7% of patients. In 14.3% of cases, the judgement of pain reduction could not be sufficiently or definitely ascertained (Table 1). From the third day on we started with the injection of 0.25% bupivacaine. The administration of this local anesthetic achieved satisfactory results in terms of facilitating the necessary mobilization procedures. With regard to the individual indication groups, the efficacy differed according to the respective supply area. The most impressive analgestic results (100%) were observed in all the patients who underwent femoral amputation or suffered from pelvic pain. A good outcome could be ascertained after surgical procedures on the knee (87.5%), and satisfactory results were achieved in the femur and hip areas (70.9%). The average indwelling time of the catheter was 6 days, the maximum amounted to 44 days. All catheters could be left in place without complications until the end of therapy. Changing the catheter is possible at any time, as is the replacement of the catheter hub. Such steps were carried out in 5 cases.