Intravenous Administration of Drugs for Obtaining Regional Adrenergic Block

Abstract

A technique is described by which the sympathetic vasoconstrictor nerves of one region of a limb can be blocked without resort to an intra-arterial infusion or perineural injection. The drug is administered into a vein when the circulation to the limb is occluded and the limb contains as little blood as possible. Following the release of the circulation the block remains effective for at least 5 hr. Bethanidine and guanethidine have been used in this way in 8 subjects and the testing of the block produced is described.