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Anesthesia Concepts > Upper Peripheral Nerve Blocks > Flashcards

Upper Peripheral Nerve Blocks Flashcards

0
Q

What are the 3 ways to ID a nerve

A

inducing a parasthesia, US, nerve stimulator

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1
Q

What are the advantages of regional anesthesia?

A

induced sympathectomy - reduced blood loss and improved post op perfusion
reduced N/V
pre-procedure analgesia

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2
Q

During a brachial plexus block, what area of the upper extremity is generally not going to be blocked

A

the posterior shoulder

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3
Q

What are the 5 terminal nerves

A

musculocutaneous, radial, axillary, ulnar, median

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4
Q

Describe the flow of electricity through the nerve stimulator

A

current flows from Black wire (+) to Red wire (-)

black wire should be distal and red wire should be more proximal

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5
Q

What is the benefit of an insulated needle?

A

the electricity will only come out the bevel instead of along the whole shaft

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6
Q

B bevel needle

A

has a short tip and a greater angle

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7
Q

When would you use an interscalene block?

A

surgery of the shoulder or upper arm, clavicle procedures, procedures proximal to the elbow

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8
Q

What is often “spared” during an interscalene block? How will you know?

A

ulnar nerve - little finger and ring finger won’t be blocked, you’ll still be able to spread fingers and pinch fingers

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9
Q

What are the landmarks to interscalene blocks?

A

supine with head turned to opposite side, palpate posterior border of SCM at C6, roll fingers posteriorly to find groove between middle and anterior scalene muscles

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10
Q

What are the absolute contraindications to a interscalene block?

A

phrenic nerve palsy

contralateral RLN palsy

*don’t want to block both sides and cause resp. failure

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11
Q

How should the needle be inserted for an interscalene block?

A

posteriorly and slightly caudad.

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12
Q

How much volume is injected for an interscalene block?

A

20-30 mL

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13
Q

How can you evaluate an interscalene block?

A

push & pull with arm, open and close fist, test sensory loss with an alcohol pad and tongue depressor.

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14
Q

What are the major complications of an interscalene block?

A

intravascular injection, Horner’s syndrome, pneumothorax, RLN block, phrenic nerve block, injection to subarachnoid space

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15
Q

How common are phrenic nerve blocks? How should this influence your practice?

A

80-100% will get a phrenic nerve block. Warn the patient that it might feel difficult to take a deep breath.

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16
Q

When would you block the cervical plexus?

A

CEA procedures. unilateral neck surgeries.

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17
Q

When would you do a supraclavicular approach?

A

any surgery along any level of the arm because it blocks the TRUNKS of the plexus.

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18
Q

What are the contraindications to a supraclavicular block?

A

contralateral phrenic/RLN paralysis or contralateral pneumothorax

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19
Q

What are the major risks of performing a supraclavicular block?

A

highest risk of pneumothorax, hitting dorsal scapular artery or IJ

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20
Q

What are the landmarks for a suprclavicular approach?

A

lateral border of the SCM near the clavicle, find grooves between the scalene muscles, then inject with needle directed caudally (NOT MEDIAL)

21
Q

What is the first thing you should do once you have the needle inserted during a suprclavicular block?

A

attempt to elicit a motor response –> the more distal the response the better the block

22
Q

What is the most important part of the your technique during injection?

A

ASPIRATE and then inject 5 mL at a time. Repeat.

23
Q

When would you perform an infraclavicular block?

A

for surgeries below the elbow, the hand, the forearm

24
Q

What are the landmarks for the infraclavicular approach?

A

the coracoid process and the medial clavicular head. Insert needle at 45 degrees midway between these 2 points. Advance the needle parallely

25
Q

What type of twitch are you looking for with an infraclavicular block?

A

median, ulnar or radial twitching

26
Q

Which type of block is good for continuous catheters?

A

infraclavicular blocks

27
Q

What is the first type of twitch you’ll see with an infraclavicular block? What should you do?

A

pectoral twitch - continue to advance your needle

28
Q

What are the indications for an axillary block?

A

surgery below the elbow

must be able to abduct the arm and bend at the elbow 90 degrees.

29
Q

If you’re attempting an axillary block on a very muscular patient, what is important to consider?

A

Their musculature may impede axillary artery flow when they abduct and bend the arm so you may need to support it with positioners when placing the block

30
Q

What are the injection volumes for an axillary block?

A

10 mL above and below the axillary artery. 5 mL for the musculocutaneous nerve.

31
Q

What are the absolute contraindications for an axillary block?

A

lymphangitis

32
Q

Where is the median nerve in relation to the axillary artery?

A

superior/anterior

33
Q

Where is the radial nerve in relation to the axillary artery?

A

posterior

34
Q

Where is the ulnar nerve in relation to the axillary artery?

A

inferior

35
Q

Where is the musculocutaneous nerve located in relation to the axillary artery?

A

Outside of the sheath altogether. Located more laterally in the arm.

36
Q

What is the major landmark you’re looking for during an axillary block?

A

the axillary artery pulse

37
Q

What is the transarterial technique?

A

insert clear through the axillary artery, then inject to get the radial nerve. Pull back and aspirate to make sure you’re no longer in the artery and then inject to block the median and ulnar nerves.

38
Q

Why is the transarterial approach note used as frequently?

A

Because there is a large risk for hematomas and for intravascular infiltration of the anesthetic

39
Q

What is the nerve stimulator technique for axillary artery?

A

insert either superiorly or inferiorly to the axillary artery, start stimulator at 1.0 mAmp. Note the twitch in hand, drop to 0.5 mAmp or lower until twitch disappears, aspirate and then inject

40
Q

What is the injection volume for an axillary block?

A

30 mL, 5mL at a time

41
Q

What nerve/muscle is generally “spared” during an axillary block? What should you do?

A

musculocutaneous nerve and coracobrachialis muscle –> you can block the belly of the coracobrachialis muscle separately.

42
Q

What are the major complications of the axillary block?

A

hematoma, intravascular injection, infection (dirty area)

43
Q

When is a “touch-up” block warranted?

A

If you’ve missed a specific nerve in one of the other blocks

44
Q

When would you do a Bier block?

A

intra-op procedures below the elbow

45
Q

How can you perform a Bier block?

A

place an IV in the same arm. Exsanguinate the arm and place a double tourniquet on the upper arm. Inflate the upper portion of the tourniquet first. Inject 40 mL of anesthetic. When the patient complains of tourniquet pain, deflate upper cuff and inflate the lower cuff.

46
Q

How long will a Bier block work for?

A

30-60 minutes per cuff (upper and lower) for a procedure lasting <120 min.

47
Q

What is the main disadvantage of a Bier block?

A

local toxicity

48
Q

What area of the brachial plexus are you blocking during an interscalene block?

A

roots

49
Q

What is the most distal block for the musculocutaneous nerve?

A

infraclavicular block - b/c the nerve leaves the fascial sheath at the level of the coracoid process

Anesthesia Concepts (8 decks)

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