[Sheared catheter in regional anaesthesia : causes and follow-up of an axiallary plexus catheter].

In the past years intoxication with local anesthetics, damage to nerves, vessels and other accompanying structures as well as infectiological events have been discussed more and more as complications accompanying peripheral nerve blocks (PNB). The following case report highlights a complication which seems to rarely occur and deals with a sheared continuous PNB, where a fragment of the catheter remained in the patient. The possible causes for the damage are discussed and recommendations on the clinical management of such a case are made.