Peripheral Nerve Blocks Flashcards
What are some benefits of regional anesthesia?
- minimal physiologic changes
- controlling own airway/reflexes
- postoperative analgesia
- being awake or sedate as the patient desires
- nausea rare
- no urinary retention
- potentially no PACU stay
What are the two primary blocks for lower extremities?
sciatic and lumbar plexus
What are the two approaches for a sciatic block?
posterior and anterior
What are the two approaches for a lumbar plexus block?
- posterior (psoas compartment block) - winnie
- anterior (3 in 1, fascia iliaca)
What are the 3 nerves that we are blocking with a “3 in 1” lumbar plexus block?
Lateral femoral nerve
Femoral nerve
Obturator nerve
Where does the sciatic nerve exit?
posteriorly behind the iliac crest in the sciatch notch
What nerves are apart of the lumbar plexus?
L2, 3, 4, 5
What lumbar nerves are apart of the lateral femoral nerve?
L2-3
What lumbar nerves are apart of the femoral nerve?
L2-3-4
What nerve branches off of the femoral nerve?
saphenous nerve
What lumbar nerves are apart of the obturator nerve?
L2-3-4
What spinal nerves are apart of the sacral plexus?
L4-5; S1-2-3
What two nerves come off of the sciatic nerve?
Peroneal and tibial
How do you do the posterior approach to the lumbar plexus block?
patient lies on side with hips in line with shoulders, find intercrestal line on back which finds L4, palpate PSIS and compare it to spine midline above buttocks, imagine line going up spine from butt crack and draw line 4 cm up from PSIS, that’s insertion point
How do you insertion your needle for a lumbar plexus block posterior approach?
insert needle perpendicular to all planes of the patient, NOT perpendicular to bed
What motor response do you look for when using nerve stimulator for a lumbar plexus block?
quadriceps contraction with symmetrical movement of the patella, patella should be “dancing around”
How much local anesthetic do you inject for a posterior lumbar plexus block?
25-35 mL
How long will it take for full-sensory motor anesthesia of a posterior lumbar plexus block?
up to 30 minutes
With what type of surgery would a posterior lumbar plexus block be ideal?
any type of knee surgery
What 3 nerves are you anesthetizing with an anterior lumbar plexus block?
lateral femoral cutaneous nerve
femoral nerve
obturator nerve
What sensation or motor does the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve provide?
sensation only
What sensation or motor does the femoral nerve provide?
mixed motor/sensory
separate fascial wrapping form femoral A/V
What motor or sensation does the obturator nerve provide?
mixed motor/sensory
What anatomical structures will you find from lateral position of iliac crest to navel for an anterior lumbar plexus block?
N (nerve) A (artery) V (vein) E (empty space) L (ligament)
Where do you insert the needle for an anterior lumbar plexus block?
just below inguinal ligament, 1-1.5 cm lateral to femoral artery, directed cephalad at about 60 degrees from skin
What motor response do you look for with an anterior lumbar plexus block?
want to see quadriceps contract with symmetrical movement of patella at 0.5-1 mA
How much local anesthetic do you want for a lumbar plexus anterior block
> 20 mL (at least 20 mL needed to reach all 3 nerves)
What should you do after injecting local anesthetic for an anterior lumbar plexus block?
massage LA cephalad so that it is distributed around all 3 nerves
What is important about the obturator component for a lumbar plexus block?
motor component of obturator allows you to pull your knees together (“Date block”)
What happens if the patient can pull their knees together after a lumbar plexus block?
block is ineffective and did not get the obturator nerve
What if you get no response from anterior apporach to lumbar plexus block?
redirect needle by 15 degrees in lateral direction, if still no response then move insertion point 0.5 cm more lateral
What is a sartorious contraction?
contractions of thigh arising from ASIS suggests stimulation of anterior branch of femoral nerve, won’t get block if inject there because directly stimulating muscle itself, redirect needle by 15 degrees in lateral direction and advance needle 1-2 mm further
What happens if you aspirate arterial blood during an anterior lumbar plexus block?
needle is too far medial, move insertion point 1 cm more lateral
What is a fascia iliaca anterior lumbar plexus approach?
blind technique with no nerve stimulator or ultrasound
How do you do a fascia iliaca anterior lumbar plexus technique?
find ASIS and pubic tubercle, connect those two with a line, mark junction of 1/3rd and medial 2/3rd and drop down 2 cm and that is insertion point
How do you insert the needle for a fascia iliac block?
Needle inserted slightly toward patient’s head, 1-2 cm inferior to line from ASIS and pubic tubercle, needle to feel pops of fascia planes as you advance, 2 layers (fascia lata then fascia iliaca), once feel 2 pops can inject LA
What motor response do you look for with a fascia iliaca block?
None
How much LA do you inject with a fascia iliaca block?
30-40 mL
Where do the tibial and peroneal nerve separate from the sciatic nerve?
at the knee
What is the classic labat position approach for the sciatic nerve?
pt lies in lateral position with extremity exposed so you can see the foot, find PSIS then move laterally to find the greater trochanter (hip bone), connect the two with a line, at the midpoint of that line draw perpendicular line caudad about 4 cm, that’s the insertion site
What is the initial motor response for posterior sciatic block?
direct stimulation of gluteus maximus
What is a piriformis contraction?
more subtle contraction like a ripple under the skin of hip going t, distinct from gluteal contraction, may become evident by reduction of current during posterior sciatic block,
What motor response do you see with tibial stimulation during a sciatic block?
plantar flexion of foot and inversion
What motor response do you see with peroneal stimulatlion during a sciatic block?
dorsiflexion and eversion
What is the relation of the piriformis muscle to the sciatic nerve?
piriformis msucle goes from sacrum to greater trochanter and sciatic nerve exits just below piriformis muscle, although people can be anatomically different with sciatic muscle going above piriformis muscle or through piriformis muscle, these people tend to have more sciatic pain long term
What tissues do you traverse doing a posterior sciatic block and how do you know you are getting close to the sciatic nerve?
transverse skin and subcutaneous tissue, gluteal muscles that overlay the piriformis, when you see piriformis muscle stimulation by hip pulling toward the sacrum, you should begin to see sciatic stimulation
What happens if you get no response if doing posterior sciatic block?
redirect needle by 15 degree increments and if no piriformis response is still seen, adjust insertion point by 1 cm back along perpendicular line
Is contraction of toes ideal during a posterior sciatic block?
yes, if not contraction of Achilles’ tendon is acceptable and if absence of either or above responses then hamstring contraction is sought
What happens if you have persistent hamstring contraction in absence of other motor contractions during posterior sciatic block?
redirect needle more laterally
What is happening when patient c/o electric shocks down half of their penis/vagina during posterior sciatic block?
stimulation of pudendal nerve which lies medial to sciatic, redirect your needle more laterally
What is the approach/technique for an anterior sciatic block?
first make sure patella and toes are facing ceiling (don’t want any rotation that can impede ability to get sciatic nerve). find landmarks (ASIS and pubic tubercle), connect the two with a line and divide it into thirds, use medial third, draw perpendicular line caudad, then draw line through greater trochanter parallel to line connecting ASIS and pubic tubercle, intersection of parallel trochanter line and perpendicular line is insertion point
How do you insert your needle for an anterior sciatic block?
insertion needle perpendicular to all planes and go 8-10 cm deep (need long needle), will often hit bone or trochanter and if do redirect needle more medially because sciatic is just on the other side of the femur
What if you have no motor response doing an anterior sciatic block and you have already redirected the needle more medially?
attempt to minimize obstruction by either internally or externally rotating the leg prior to further advancement of needle
How long does it take for the onset of an anterior sciatic nerve block?
up to 30 minutes for full sensory/motor anesthetic
How much LA do you use for a sciatic block from any approach?
15-20 mL
What should you keep in mind if doing a scaitic block combined with lumbar plexus?
LAST, giving anywhere from 25-40 mL for lumbar plexus and 15-20 for sciatic
Can you combine an anterior sciatic with anterior lumbar plexus?
Yes, patient can stay in same position and gets total anesthesia of that extremity
If the patient is anticoagulated, can you do sciatic or lumbar plexus block?
follow ASRA guidelines, can develop retroperitoneal hematoma from lumbar plexus block
What muscles does the lumbar plexus nerve supply?
anterior and medial thigh
What muscles are innervated by the sacral plexus nerve?
buttocks, posterior thigh muscles, and all muscles below the knee
The lumbar plexus is formed within which muscle?
psoas
What is the classic approach to a popliteal fossa block>
posterior approach
What landmarks are identified for a posterior popliteal fossa block?
have patient flex knee joint then identify the popliteal fossa crease, tendon of semitendinousus muscle, and tendon of biceps femoris (make rectangle)
Where is the insertion site for posterior popliteal fossa block?
7 cm above posterior fossa crease inbetween semitendinousus muscle and tendon of biceps femoris
What is your needle orientation for posterior fossa block?
perpendicular to all planes
What is the approach for a lateral popliteal fossa block?
patient lies supine and prop leg up on a pillow
What landmarks do you use for a lateral popliteal fossa block?
find lateral femoral epicondyle, and space between vastus lateralis muscle and biceps formis
Where is the needle insertion site for a lateral popliteal fossa block?
7 cm caudad to lateral femoral epicondyle and inbetween vastus lateralis muscle and biceps formis muscle
How should you insert your needle for a lateral popliteal fossa block?
advance needle perpendicular until you hit the femur, then back the needle out and redirect at a 45 degree angle and then slowly advance
What is happening and what do you do if you have local twitch of biceps femoris muscle during a popliteal fossa block?
direct stimulation of the biceps femoris muscle, needle too lateral and needs to be withdrawn and redirected medially 5-10 degrees
What is happening and what do you do if you have local twitch of the semitendosus or semimembranosus muscle during a popliteal fossa block?
direct stimulation of the semitendinosus or semimembranosus muscle, needle too medial and needs to be withdrawn and redirected laterally 5-10 degrees
What is happening and what do you do if you have twitch of the calf muscles without foot or toe movement during a popliteal fossa block?
stimulation of the muscular branches of the sciatic nerve, disregard and continue advancing the needle until foot or toe twitches are obtained
What is happening and what do you do if you have blood in the syringe during a popliteal fossa block?
indicates placement into the popliteal artery or vein, needle is too medial and needs to be withdrawn and redirected more laterally
What is happening and what do you do if you hit bone during a popliteal fossa block?
needle hit femur, too deep of insertion so withdraw slowly and look for foot twitch
What is a saphenous block often combined with to allow complete anesthesia of lower leg?
sciatic and popliteal fossa block
What does the saphenous nerve supply?
sensory to skin on the medial side of the knee from calf down to ankle
What landmarks do you find for a saphenous block?
locate tibia
What is the technique for doing saphenous block?
local tibia and inject ring of LA starting at medial surface of tibial condyle ending at dorsomedial aspect of upper calf