Upper extremity blocks (exam 2) Flashcards
Absolute contraindications of any nerve block?
Patient refusal
Uncorrected coagulation deficiencies
Infection at the site of the block
Systemic anticoagulation
When would you use a Cervical Plexus Block?
neck and shoulders
thyroid operations
carotid endarterectomies in which awake neurologic assessment is desired.
***Cervical plexus is formed from what rami?
Formed from the anterior rami of C1-C4
***The cervical plexus supplies sensation to what areas of the body?
jaw, neck, occiput, and areas of the chest and shoulder.
True or false, you want to inject LA into the sheath of the nerve?
False, you want to inject outside of the sheath. You want to be around the nerve but NOT in the sheath.
With the nerve stimulator, if you are still getting twitches below 0.2mAmps whats the problem?
you are probably in the sheath, and you DO NOT want to inject here.
Needle gauge for Retrobulbar block?
25-27g
How much LA are you injecting (ml) with a Retrobulbar block?
2-4ml
Complications of a Retrobulbar block?
Intra-arterial injection: local anesthetic toxicity (most common complication)
Oculocardiac reflex
Retrobulbar hemorrhage
Trauma to optic nerve
Retrobulbar injection
Injection into optic nerve sheath
Before you do a nerve block you need to know if they have an uncorrected coagulation deficiency, what is the platelet number you want it at or higher?
100,000 or higher (unless they are chronically below this number then exceptions can be made)
What are some relative contraindication of any nerve block?
Arbitrary values for platelet counts of less than 100,000
Prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and bleeding times that are elevated
Severe bleeding with or without symptomatic hypovolemia or the potential for severe bleeding
Patient age
Uncooperative and/or Confused patients
Chronic neurological disorders
Local anesthetic allergy
Caution with patients that have history of Mobitz I, II, or third degree heart block
Peripheral neuropathy
If someone is allergic to a certain LA, then what could you give them?
The other class of LA, because there should not be cross-sensitivity between the two classes of LA. (amides and esters)
What generally precedes akinesia (loss or impairment of the power of voluntary movement) of the eye muscles?
Analgesia of the globe
When can effectiveness of the ocular block be evaluated?
2 minutes after block placement
True or False: with an ocular block, partial movement of one or more of the ocular muscles may occur?
True
Most common complication of Retrobulbar block?
Intra-arterial injection: local anesthetic toxicity
What nerve supplies the airway mucosa from the level of the epiglottis to the distal airways?
The Vagus nerve
Which block do you WANT to aspirate air with?
Translaryngeal (trans-tracheal) block!
**Block indicated for shoulder and proximal humerus surgery?
Interscalene
**Blocks for surgeries distal to the mid-humerus? (3)
supraclavicular, infraclavicular & axillary
When a block is used during surgery and you have the patient under GA, you may be able to do what with your inhaled anesthetic?
decrease the amount of inhaled anesthetic you are using bc they do not need as much bc there is no pain stimulation.
**How many cervical nerves do you have compared to cervical vertebrae?
8 cervical nerves
7 cervical vertebrae
How many: thoracic nerves lumbar nerves sacral nerves coccygeal nerves
thoracic nerves=12
lumbar nerves=5
sacral nerves=5
coccygeal nerve=1
Total PAIRS of spinal nerves?
31
Do spinal nerves emerge from the spinal cord in pairs or as a single strand?
in pairs
How many vertebrae does a normal human have?
33 vertebrae
*** Each spinal nerve has a BLANK and BLANK root?
anterior and posterior root.
***posterior roots form WHAT?
ganglia
*** Anterior nerve roots join to form WHAT?
Plexuses
List the four common plexus (the ones we focus on)
cervical
brachial
lumbar
sacral
What forms the cervical plexus?
formed by anterior divisions of the upper 4 cervical nerves.
C1-C4
***What forms the Brachial plexus?
formed by the anterior divisions of C5,6,7,C8, and T1 nerves.
What forms the Lumbar plexus
formed by the anterior division of L1-4
What forms the Sacral plexus?
formed by the roots of lumbar 4 - 5 and sacral 1-3 nerves
Brachial Plexus break down? (Robert Taylor Drinks Cold Beer)
5 Roots 3 Trunks 6 Divisions 3 Cords Terminal branches (nerves)
The Brachial Plexus roots are?
Arise from C5,6,7,8, & T1 nerves (between the scalenes)
The brachial plexus has 3 distinct trunks, what are they?
superior (C5-6), Middle (C7) , and inferior (C8-T1)
***Trunks pass over the lateral border of the WHAT and under the WHAT dividing into anterior and posterior divisions
Trunks pass over the lateral border of the FIRST RIB and under the CLAVICLE dividing into anterior and posterior divisions
How many divisions are there of the Brachial plexus?
6 divisions:
3 anterior and 3 posterior
The 3 cords of the brachial plexus are named based on what?
named after their relationship to the axillary artery
What are the 3 names of the cords of the brachial plexus?
Lateral cord
Posterior cord
Medial cord
***Each cord “gives off” a branch and terminates at a specific nerve. Tell me the details of this for each cord.
**Lateral cord gives off lateral branch of the median nerve and terminates as musculocutaneous(shallow nerve)
**Medial cord gives off medial branch of the median nerve and terminates as the ulnar nerve
**Posterior cord gives off the axillary nerve and terminates as the radial nerve
Terminal Branches of the Brachial Plexus, tell me the major neves of the branches?
Musculocutaneous Radial Ulnar Median (Axillary)
True or False:
The entire Brachial Plexus is a continuous fascial sheath and All techniques for blocking the brachial plexus involve the location of the nerves and injection of the LA within the fascial sheath.
True
Indication for an Interscalene block approach?
approach-optimal for procedures on the shoulder, proximal (upper) arm
Indication for a supraclavicular block approach?
procedures of the entire arm including hand
typically need a separate ulnar block, mid humerous down
Indication for a Infraclavicular block approach?
When would you not use this approach?
procedures of the hand, forearm, and elbow.
NOT good for upper arm.
Axillary block approach used for?
procedures up to the elbow.
For procedures that need to block the upper arm, what blocks would you NOT use?
infraclavicular or axillary
Can you use an axillary block to block the elbow?
axillary is for procedures UP TO the elbow, but I would not assume it includes the elbow.
Tell me 3 advantages of an Interscalene block?
Most appropriate for shoulder surgery
***Reduced risk (small risk) of pneumothorax
Clear landmarks (even in obese patients)
A disadvantage to an Interscalene block would be that a supplementary block may be required, which supplementary block would this be?
Ulnar block
Interscalene block is NOT recommended for what types of surgery?
hand surgery or any surgery below the level of the elbow.
What nerve is frequently NOT blocked by use of an interscalene block?
Ulnar nerve (that is why ulnar block is what may need to be supplemented with an interscalene block)