Effect of nerve block on t-PA release by venous occlusion.

Abstract In order to investigate the influence of neural blockade on tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) release by venous occlusion, we compared the increase in t-PA and fibrinolytic activity in the euglobulin fraction initiated by cubital venous occlusion (100 mmHg for 10 min), in pre-neural block and post-neural block states, in 7 cases. In all patients, the supra-clavicular approach was used to obtain a brachial plexus block and venous occlusion was achieved at the cubital levels on the ipsilateral arm. The euglobulin fibrinolytic activity before venous occlusion was 100.9±27.5 BAU in the pre-nerve block state and 102.7±29.4 BAU in the post-nerve block state (p>0.5). The t-PA antigen level before venous occlusion was 3.5±1.2ng/ml in the pre-nerve block state and 4.0±1.0 ng/ml in the post-nerve block state (p>0.05). The increase in the euglobulin fibrinolytic activity after venous occlusion was 18.0±16.7 BAU in the pre-nerve block state, and 18.3±15.6 BAU in the post-nerve block state (p>0.5). The increase in the t-PA antigen levels after venous occlusion was 3.0±2.0 ng/ml in the pre-nerve block state and 3.0±2.1ng/ml in the post-nerve block state (p>0.5). These findings suggest that the peripheral nervous system does not exert any influence on t-PA release during venous occlusion.