Continuous axillary block through an indwelling Teflon catheter.

Continuous regional anesthesia through a catheter placed in the axillary sheath has been an effective method of brachial plexus neural blockade. This article confirms this observation and demonstrates that continuous axillary block is useful in replantation surgery to provide anesthesia and analgesia in addition to sympathetic blockade for up to 7 days after operation. This anesthetic technique may allow extensive revascularization or replantation procedures to be performed for patients who could not safely tolerate prolonged application of general anesthesia.