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Background. Clear visibility of the needle and catheter tip is desirable to perform safe and successful ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve blocks. This can be challenging with deeper blocks in obese patients. This study compared the visibility of echogenic and non-echogenic block needles and catheters in proximal sciatic blocks when performed with a low-frequency curved probe.

Methods. Seventy-eight patients undergoing total knee joint arthroplasty were randomized to receive an ultrasound-guided continuous sciatic nerve block using either a non-echogenic needle and stimulating catheter or an echogenic needle and echogenic non-stimulating catheter. Block needles in both groups were placed using both neurostimulation and ultrasound guidance, after which the catheter was positioned using either neurostimulation alone (Stimulating group) or imaging alone (Echogenic group). Three …