Ultrasound-Guided Truncal Blocks Flashcards
What is the goal of truncal blocks?
Place LA around nerves but aren’t anesthetizing specific nerves
Using anatomy to provide LA to nerves that lie within muscles/ fascial planes
How do truncal blocks differ then peripheral nerve blocks?
peripheral nerve blocks target specific nerves while truncal blocks target nerves in fascial planes
What are the 5 thoracic blocks?
PECS 1 PECS 2 serratus anterior plane block paravertebral block intercostal nerve block
What are the four abdominal blocks?
rectus sheath
transverse abdominis plane (TAP)
erector spinae
quadratus lumborum
What are the indications for the PEC 1 and 2 block?
analgesia for breast surgery
Describe PECS 1 block
anesethetize medial and lateral pectoral nerves ( innervated pectoralis muscles)
high frequency linear array transducer placed in parasagittal orientation at level of coracoid process; rotate transducer to a cephalad medial and caudad lateral orientation to visualize thoracoacromial artery
Describe PECS 2 block
extension of PECS 1
also blocks upper intercostal nerves
What is PECS 1 and 2 an alternative too?
paravertebral block or thoracic epidural
What blocks reduce the risk of pneumothorax and spinal?
PECS 1 and 2
What nerves innervate the lateral cord?
C5-C7
What nerves innervate the medial cord?
C8, T1
What position is the patient in for PECS 1?
supine with arm abducted
What do you need to identify in a PECS 1 block?
costal margins, pectoralis major (PM), pectoralis minor (Pmi), serratus muscles
How is the needle inserted for a PECS 1 block?
in-plane, cephalad to caudad, until the tip pentrates the fascia between PM and Pmi
What is medial to the Pmi muscle before entering the PM muscle
lateral pectoral nerve
What does the lateral pectoral nerve communication and supply?
communicates across axillary artery with medial pectoral nerve and supplies the Pm
Where does the medial pectoral nerve arise?
medial cord fibers from C8 to T1 behind the axillary artery at level below the clavicle
passes through the Pmi and then enters and innervates PM
What are both pectoral nerves deep to?
pectoral major muscle
Where do you place the transducer for a PECS 2 block?
slide transducer caudad to level 3-4th rib and angle inferolaterally until the Pmi and serratus anterior muscles are identified
Where are the two injections for PECS 2 placed?
infiltrate two fascial compartments between pectoral nerves and under pectoralis minor muscle
Inject: between Pm and Pmi muscles (pectoral nerves)
between Pmi and serratus anterior muscles (intercostal branches for axilla and chest)
What position is the patient placed in for PECS 2 muscle?
supine, arm abducted 90 degrees or at side
Where is the first injection anatomically for PECS 2?
between pectoralis major and pectoralis minor
Where is the second injection anatomically for PECS 2?
anterior axillary line of level 4th rib, 1-3 cm for second injection and 3-6cm for second injection
During a PECS 2 block, what angle can the transducer be to help visualize the axillary artery and vein and second rib?
transducers can be angled infero-lateral
How is the serratus plane block different then the PECS 1 and 2 block?
more lateral and posterior then PECS 1 and 2
Where is the serratus plane block performed?
axillary region
Where is LA anatomically injected for serratus plane block?
between serratus anterior and latissimus dorsi muscle
What are indications for serratus plane block?
breast surgery, thoractomy and rib fracture
What anatomic structures are found in a serratus plane block?
intercostobrachial nerve, lateral cutaneous branches of intercostal nerves T3-T9, long thoracic nerve and thoracodorsal nerves are in compartment between serratus anterior and latissimus dorsi muscles
What are the two main anatomical landmarks for serratus anterior plane block?
latissimus dorsi and serratus anterior muscle
What artery runs in the fascial plane of the serratus anterior plane?
thoracodorsal artery
What is the patient position for serratus anterior plane?
lateral or supine with arm forward
Where do you place the transducer for a serratus anterior plane block?
linear array transducer across axilla to identify latissimus dorsi and thoracodorsal artery
What are indications for paravertebral block?
perioperative analgesia for thoracic, chest wall or breast surgery, pain management of rib fractures
What does the paravertebral block target?
paravertebral space that contains spinal nerves, branches and sympathetic trunk
What is the paravertebral space?
wedge shapped area formed medially by the vertebral body, inferiorly by parietal pleura and anteriorly by the costotransverse ligament
What is the goal of the paravertebral block?
inject LA alongside thoracic verebra close to where spinal nerves emerge from intervertebral foramen
What is the patient position for paravertebral block?
sitting (preferred), lateral or supine
How do you perform a paravertebral block?
patient is sitting and identify at desired levels and mark 2.5cm lateral to midline at the thoracic levels to be blocked- should lie over transverse process over the vertebra
Describe the paravertebral block with an US
Patient is in lateral decubitus position
high frequency linear array transducer placed in transverse orientation at the desired level lateral to spinous process
once hypoechoic transverse process and ribs are identified, slide transducer slightly caudad into the intercostal space
On US with a paravertebral block, what indicates correct spread of LA?
downward displacement of pleura