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Regional Final > Upper Extremity Blocks > Flashcards

Upper Extremity Blocks Flashcards

1
Q

What do we block when we block the ventral rami?

A

Sensory innervation

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2
Q

What do the dorsal roots of the Cervical plexus innervate?

A

Set joints
Deep muscles
Skin across back

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3
Q

Cervical Plexus has 2 sets of roots what are they?

A

Ventral and Dorsal

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4
Q

What are the 4 indications for Cervical Plexus block?

A
  1. Clavicular fractures
  2. IJ Vein cannulation
  3. Soft tissue procedures over lateral neck, shoulder and lower ear
  4. Supplement deep cervical for CEA
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5
Q

What are we blocking with Cervical plexus block?

What nerves are being blocked?

A 
Ventral rami of C2, C3, and C4 
Nerves: 
Lesser Occipital
Greater Auricular
Transverse Cervical 
Supraclavicular

Let’s Go To Spain

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6
Q

Do we use PNS with Superficial Cervical Plexus?

A

NO all sensory

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7
Q

Describe the landmark based approach to superficial cervical plexus

A

Midway between mastoid process and clavicle at C4 level

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8
Q

Why do we not ever advance past “Stop sign” with superficial cervical plexus

A

Will get the phrenic N

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9
Q

Local Dosing and Administration for Superficial Cervical Plexus

A

Short bevel 22 G needle
0.5% or less bupivicaine/ropivicaine
5-10 mL in fan direction along posterior border of SCM
Often done in combo with interscalene block with same needle pass

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10
Q

Complications of Superficial Cervical Plexus

A

Nerve injury
LAST
Seizures
- 1-2 mL inadvertent into vertebral/carotid artery
Bleeding
Inadvertent phrenic nerve block and or interscalene block
High spinal or epidural resulting in severe hypotension, Brady, and respiratory arrest (if you get a motor block you have have severe hypotension

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11
Q

Where do you place the LA for the Superficial Cervical plexus

A

Facial plane between SCM and middle scalene

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12
Q

Needle approach for Superficial Cervical Plexus

A

0.5 cm behind SCM from lateral to medial approach

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13
Q

What are we blocking when doing Deep Cervical Plexus?

A

Ventral rami C2, C3, C4 and dorsal rami

Block the Ansa Cervicalis C1-C4 (motor component)

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14
Q

7 Indications for Deep Cervical Plexus Block

A
  1. CEA
    - allows for determination of cerebral insufficiency during carotid clamping and/or need for shunting
    - better hemodynamic stability during case
  2. Thyroid surgery (can’t do because you will block phrenic on both sides) not really sure why this is even on here but just in case
  3. Disk herniation at c2-C4 levels
  4. Removal of lymph nodes, nodules, or small neck tumors
  5. Clavicular fractures
  6. Supplement to shoulder surgery
  7. Cervicogenic head aches
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15
Q

Describe the Cervicothoracic (stellate) ganglion.

A

Between C8-T1
Inferior cervical ganglia cell bodies which originate from T1-L1: lateral horns of grey matter, blockade of this will create horners syndrome, blocks phrenic N

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16
Q

Do you use PNS for Intermediate/Deep Cervical Plexus block?

A

NO

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17
Q

Describe the Landmark based approach of Deep cervical plexus

A

Mastoid process and Chassignac’s tubercle; 1 cm posterior and parallel; 1.5 cm down C2; 1.5 cm down C3; 1.5 cm down C4
Make contact wth transverse process and withdraw 1-2 mm aspirate and inject
3-5 mL LA at each vertebral level (paravertebral injection)

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18
Q

Describe Deep/Intermediate USGRA approach

A

US placed at C4, in plane short axis

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19
Q

Where does Intermediate Cervical plexus block get placed?

A

Investine Fascia between SCM and middle scalene

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20
Q

Where does the deep cervical plexus block get placed

A

In the deep cervical fascia right by the middle scalene right by the phrenic N.

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21
Q

How many mL’s for a Deep Cervical for Carotid Endarectomy and the nerves you need to block?

A

Paravertebral injection 5mL each at C2, C3, C4
Superficial cervical (5-10mL)
Glossopharyngeal (carotid built) 2mL
- surgeon administers intraop
Contralateral Transverse Cervical (8mL SQ ring)
- inject from thyroid to clavicle
- retractor pain

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22
Q

Describe complications with Deep Cervical Plexus

A

Bleeding/infection
High spinal and epidural blocks (never go deeper than 2.5 cm)
Inadvertent carotid/vertebral artery injection (seizures)
Phrenic N paralysis 100%
Highly vascular increased risk of LAST
Hornets syndrome 100% PAM ptosis, anhydrosis, miosis
Recurrent laryngeal nerve block innervates intrinsic laryngeal n

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23
Q

What block gets the roots of the brachial plexus

A

Interscalene block

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24
Q

Which block gets the trunks of the brachial plexus

A

Supraclavicular and interscalene

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25
Q

Which block gets the divisions of the brachial plexus

A

Supraclavicular block

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26
Q

Which block gets the cords of the brachial plexus

A

Infraclavicular block

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27
Q

Which block gets the terminal branches of the brachial plexus

A

Axillary block

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28
Q

What 2 muscles is the brachial plexus located between?

A

Wedged between the anterior scalene m and middle scalene muscle as it starts to exit muscles it dives between clavicle and 1st rib then exits out the axilla

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29
Q

6 Nerves originating from Brachial Plexus

A 
Phrenic N 
Supraclavicuar N 
Lateral pectoral N 
Musculocutaneous N 
Axillary N 
Suprascapular N
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30
Q

What muscles does the suprascapular N innervate and what does it provide?

A

Comes from C5, C6
Muscles: Supraspinatus, Intraspinatus
Provides: sensory innervation of internal capsule of shoulder and shoulder abduction

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31
Q

What muscles does dorsal scapular nerve innervate and what does it provide

A

Comes from C5
Rhomboid major and minor and levitation scapula
Raises medial border of scapula upward and medically

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32
Q

What muscle doe sthe thoracodorsal N innervate and what does it provide?

A

Comes from C6, C7, C8
Latissimus Doris
Extends, ad ducts and medically rotates humerus; raises body toward arms during climbing

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33
Q

What muscle does the long thoracic N innervate and what does it provide

A

Comes from C5, C6, C7
Serratus anterior
Pulls the medial border of the scapular to posterior thoracic wall and stabilizes it there; rotates scapula during abduction of arm above right triangle

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34
Q

What muscles does the lateral pectoral n innervate and what does it provide

A

Comes from C5, C6, C7
Pectoralis major and minor
Abduction, medial rotation, and flexion of humerus (shoulder joint)

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35
Q

What muscles does the medial pectoral n innervate and what does it provide

A

Comes from C8-T1
Pectoralis major and minor
Adduction, medial rotation and flexion of humerus (shoulder joint)

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36
Q

What muscles does the axillary n innervate and what does it provide

A

Comes from C5, C6
Teres minor and deltoid
Abduction of arm at shoulder beyond 15 degrees
Dome of shoulder (sensory)

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37
Q

What is the summary of block coverage for the interscalene block

A

Dome of shoulder; gets suprascapular and dorsal scapular; spares ulnar n

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38
Q

What is the summary of block coverage for the supraclavicular block

A

Total spinal of arm

Doesn’t block suprascapular or dorsal scapular

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39
Q

What is the summary of block coverage for the infraclavicular block?

A

Just above the elbow distally

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40
Q

What is the summary of block coverage for the Axillary block?

A

Below the elbow

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41
Q

What muscles does the radial N innervate?

What are its motor functions?

A

Triceps
Extension at all arm, wrist, and proximal finger joints below the shoulder; forearm supination; thumb abduction in plane of palm

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42
Q

What do you get in radial n injury?

A

Wrist drop

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43
Q

What muscles does the axillary n innervate?

What are the motor functions?

A

Deltoid and teres minor
Abduction of arm at shoulder beyond 15 degrees
Skin over the shoulder

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44
Q

What muscles does the ulnar n innervate?

What motor functions does it provide?

A

Finger adduction and abduction other than thumb; thumb adduction, flexion of digits 4 & 5; wrist flexion and adduction
Skin over the medial surface of the hand through the superficial branch

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45
Q

What happens in ulnar n injury

A

Claw hand deformity

46
Q

What muscles doe the median n innervate?

What motor functions does it provide?

A

Thumb flexion and opposition, flexion of digits 2 & 3, wrist flexion and abduction, forearm pronation
Skin over anterolateral surface of hand

47
Q

What happens in median n injury

A

Ape hand deformity thenar atrophy

48
Q

What muscles does the musculocutaneous n innervate?

What are the motor functions?

A

BBC: biceps, brachialis, coracobrachialis
Flexion of arm at the elbow, supination of the forearm
Lateral surface of the forearm through lateral antebrachial cutaneous n

49
Q

What can happen if patient already has n injury in the acute phase?

A

Double crush phenomenon

50
Q

What type of injury is often associated with nerve injury

A

Orthopedic trauma

51
Q

What happens in suprascapular n palsy?

A

Weakness and wasting
Infraspinatus is bigger than supraspinatus
Reduced arm abduction and external rotation

52
Q

What happens in axillary n palsy?

A

Deltoid weakness
Shoulder is elevated by trapezius
Slight abduction by supraspinatus

53
Q

What happens in ulnar n palsy?

A

Claw hand of first and second finger

54
Q

What happens in median n palsy?

A

Thumb is externally rotated into plane of palm (unopposed thumb)
Thenar atrophy
Ape hand

55
Q

What happens in musculocutaneous n palsy?

A

Inability to flex at the elbow

56
Q

What causes winged scapula?

A

Dorsal scapular n palsy

The medial border of the scapula is elevated from paralysis of the rhomboids

57
Q

5 indications for Interscalene block

A
  1. Shoulder surgery
  2. Clavicular fracture (distal)
  3. Total shoulder arthroplasty
  4. Shoulder dislocation
  5. Shoulder involving dome of shoulder
    Ulnar n sparing (high risk of PTX, vertebral and carotid artery injection trying to block inferior trunk
58
Q

What are we blocking with Interscalene block?

A

C5, C6, C7 roots

59
Q

Is a PNS used in Interscalene block?

A

Yes

60
Q

Twitch responses of PNS with Interscalene block

A

Diaphragm= phrenic n= needle is too anterior between SCM and a. Scalene

Elevation of scapula by lavatory scapular muscle= dorsal scapular n = needle is too posterior

Trapezius muscle movement in neck= accessory n= needle is too superior

Movement of biceps muscle or forearm= brachial plexus= CORRECT

61
Q

What is the positioning for brachial plexus block?

A

Lateral position with head of bed 15-30 degrees

Facilitates needling from posterior position and shallow needle angle to brachial plexus

62
Q

Local anesthetic and volume of Interscalene block

A

1-3cm never advance past 3 cm
15-20 mL
Support arm
Low interscalene approach might minimize complications
Aim for C5 & C6 roots place LA lateral side only

63
Q

What nerves get missed in brachial plexus block? 3 nerves

A

Fails to block ulnar n (C8-T1), median antebrachial n (T1), and median brachial cutaneous n (T1)

64
Q

Complications with Interscalene Block

A

Phrenic N paralysis
- 100% of the time
- hemiparesis diaphragm ( painful and present in 10% of blocks)
- contraindicated in patients that can’t tolerate 25% reduction in lung function
Unilateral recurrent nerve paralysis (hoarseness) do not do this block on them!
Inadvertent carotid/vertebral artery puncture
- seizure (LA injection)
Pneumothorax
Epidural or high spinal (paravertebral spread LA)
Stellate ganglion block (horners syndrome); not as high incidence as deep cervical

65
Q

How to avoid pleural dome and pneumothorax in interscalene block

A

Stay away from medial 1/3 of clavicle

Stay ANTERIOR to the 1st rib

66
Q

Interscalene Catheters

A

2-3 cm Interscalene space (locate in trapezius)
4-6 ml/hr
Test for migration
Use shorter acting LA to test for position, effectiveness and tolerability of diaphragmatic paralysis (COPD)
- 2 chloroprocaine: small doses < 20 minutes duration of action

67
Q

Indications for Supraclavicular Block

A

Surgerys on arm below shoulder dome because doesn’t block suprascapular/dorsalscapular n that innervate shoulder
Ulnar gets blocked separately below the subclavian artery in the “corner pocket”
“Spinal” for arm
NO NS because high risk of pneumothorax

68
Q

Which UE block has highest incidence of pneumo?

A

Supraclavicular
Infraclavicular
Interscalene

69
Q

Which block, out of all the blocks has highest incidence of pneumo?

A

Intercostal block

70
Q

What gets blocked with the supraclavicular block?

A

Distal trunks/ proximal divisions
Corner pocket: inferior trunk forms medial cord which gives rise to terminal branches of median and ulnar n.
Corner pocket gets C8-T1

71
Q

If you can’t see lung when performing supraclavicular block what should you do?

A

Tilt transducer “ansitropy” make sure to ensure visualization of pleura and rib margins prior to needling

72
Q

Positioning for Supraclavicular Block

A

Supine, head up

73
Q

Dosing for Supraclavicular Block

A

20-25 mL

Can be surgical so can use 0.5% bupivicaine or 0.75% ropivicaine

74
Q

Complications for Supraclavicular block?

A

Highest incidence of pneumo
Blocks phrenic n 50% of time (hemidiaphragm paresis)
Do not do block in individuals who cannot tolerate 25% reduction in lung function
Bleeding hematoma can be a problem because clavicle in the way so can’t hold pressure
Highly vascular: MAKE SURE TO USE DOPPLER PRIOR to INJECTING
Infection
N injury

75
Q

Indications for infraclavicular block

A

Surgery from mid humerus –> fingers (very steep angle and very hard to see
Does not block suprascapular/dorsalscapular n
ASRA deep block because clavicle
May need curved probe for deeper penetration

76
Q

What is being blocked in infraclavicular block?

A

Blocks the cords; all of them

77
Q

Landmarks for scanning for infraclavicular block?

A

Coracoid process: 2cm medial and 2 cm inferior

78
Q

Do we use a NS for Infraclavicular block?

A

YES

79
Q

What if you get pec muscle direct stimulation with PNS when doing infraclavicular block?

A

You will get arm adduction and you are too shallow so keep advancing

80
Q

What if you get subscapularis stimulation with PNS when doing an interscalene block

A

Local twitch resembling latissimus Dorsi; you are too deep withdraw needle and reinsert in another direction

81
Q

What if you get axillary n with pns when doing infraclavicular block

A

You will have movement of deltoid muscle and you are too inferior, withdraws and reinsert superiorly

82
Q

What if you get a twitch of the bicep with PNS when doing infraclavicular block?

A

You are stimulating the musculocutaneous n; needle is too superior need to withdraw needle to skin and reinsert with light caudal orientation

83
Q

What is the ideal twitch when performing an infraclavicular block

A

Hand twitch is ideal

84
Q

What 2 approaches can be used when performing infraclavicular block?

A

RAPTIR: retro clavicular approach to the infraclavicular region: better needle visualization don’t see needle for 3cm while going under clavicle
Best option for obese people

Classic approach: steep needling poor needle visualization higher risk of pneumo

Steep angle so rocking helps with this block
Use parasagittal in plane approach needle from superior to inferior

85
Q

Which cord of brachial plexus has most variability?

A

Posterior cord

86
Q

Positioning, needle depths and LA amount for infraclavicular block?

A

Head up , arm abducted 90 degrees, pillow for comfort
Deep block; watch for anticoagulants
Want even transducer pressure because highly vascular
30-40 mL
Catheter is ideal for this location

87
Q

Indications for Axillary block?

A

Surgery below the elbow

Great for AV grafts and finger amputation cases

88
Q

What is different about the nerves in the axillary block

A

They are highly septated

89
Q

What nerves are missed in the axillary block and why?

A

Musculocutaneous and axillary nerves

Early take off of these n at higher location in brachial plexus

90
Q

What block must be performed if tourniquet is going to be used in brachial plexus block?

A

Intercostobrachial block must be performed to get T2. Brachial plexus blocks will NEVER get T2

91
Q

Positioning, and depth and needle placement for axillary block

A

Arm abducted 90 degrees
Pillow for comfort
Shallow block 1-2 cm
Probe perpendicular to humerus
Highly vascular
Should be as high in axilla as possible; the higher that you are the closer the musculocutaneous n is to the axillary sheath
Needle comes in from superior angle through coracobrachialis

92
Q

Dosing and highlights for Axillary block

A

Multiple blocks for whole arm

  • musculocutaneous (6-8 mL)
  • intercostobrachial (6-8 mL)
  • axillary block (inject at multiple locations) 25-30 mL

Antebrachial and medial brachial cutaneous NOT blocked because higher take off lateral cord
- can be anesthetized with intercostobrachial block

No need to block musculocutaneous in analgesic blocks because only supplies superficial coverage to the lateral arm

NO RISK OF PNEUMO

93
Q

Do we use PNS for Axillary block

A

YES

94
Q

What should you do if you obtain a local twitch of the arm muscle with PNS when performing axillary block?

A

Direct stimulation of the biceps or triceps muscle
Needle is inserted in a direction that is too superior or too inferior
Withdraw needle and redirect it

95
Q

What happens if your needle contacts bone when doing axillary block and no twitches are seen?

A

Needle was stopped by HUMERUS
Brachial plexus was missed; needle too deep
Withdraw needle to skin and reinsert at 15-30 degree angle anteriorly or posteriorly

96
Q

What if you obtain twitches of the hand when performing axillary block?

A

You are in the perfect position, you are stimulating medial radial or ulnar nerve; accept and inject local anesthetic

97
Q

What if you see arterial blood in tubing of block syringe?

A

You have punctured the artery; the needle entered the lumen of the axillary artery, proceed with the transarterial approach and inject 2/3 of LA posterior to artery and 1/3 anterior to artery

98
Q

What if you obtain paresthesia; no motor response with pns when performing axillary block?

A

Contact of the needle with the brachial plexus branches
Possible equipment malfunction (stimulator, needle, electrode) contact with sensory part of nerve only
Carefully assess the distribution of paresthesia and if typical, inject LA

99
Q

How is a intercostobrachial n block performed?

A

Abduct and externally rotate arm, inject subcutaneous straight line form anterior edge deltoid to long head of tricep using 3cm 25 g needle and 10 mL syringe in axillary crease

100
Q

Radial N block

A

Lateral aspect and 3-4 cm above elbow crease
Triangular
Trace the n proximal and see if it disappears
Hyperchoic
2-3 mL LA

101
Q

Median n Block

A

Ansitropy important because dives a lot
Buried in the muscle
Start image at elbow and trace distally
2-3 mL LA

102
Q

Ulnar n Block

A

Adjacent ulnar artery
Hyperchoic
2-3 mL LA

103
Q

Indications for Wrist Blocks

A

Surgery on hand and fingers
Carpal tunnel release
Dupuytren contracture

104
Q

What 3 nerves are we getting in wrist blocks

A

Median
Ulnar
Radial

105
Q

Positioning and needle approach for ulnar n block

A

Hand supinate; needle outside of arm (lateral?)

3-5 mL LA

106
Q

What 2 structures is ulnar nerve located in between?

A

Ulnar artery and flexor carpi ulnari tendon

107
Q

Position and needling for median n block?

A

Hand supinated, enter superiorly, just medial to palmaris longus tendon

108
Q

What 2 structures is the median n located between

A

Palmaris longus tendon and flexor carpi radial tendon

109
Q

Positioning and needling for radial n block

A

Hand probated and needle coming in from “radial” side of wrist right above anatomical snuff box

110
Q

How much local do you use in finger blocks?

A

1-2 mL LA per side; block both sides of finger you are going to be working on right below knuckle

3-4 mL in the web space and have to do both sides

Regional Final (3 decks)

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