INFRACLAVICULAR
As I have mentioned in other places on this website, I have traditionally been more of a supraclavicular than an infraclavicular block fan. A recent conversation (rather, a friendly argument) gave me enough pause to look again at this technique. I will cut to the chase and say that I still have no good.. read more →
TAP
Though the TAP block tends to be one that people venture into after they have started with at least a few of the orthopedic blocks, I would recommend putting it on the short list of blocks to learn even if you are just starting to use ultrasound. It is a very easy block.. read more →
SUPRACLAVICULAR
Above, you can see a needle advancing from the left of the image and piercing the middle scalene muscle to approach the ‘corner pocket’ at 2 cm depth. The muscle is indistinct due to the very steep angle at which it is being viewed. The ‘corner pocket’ is at the intersection of the rib, artery.. read more →
SUBGLUTEAL SCIATIC
The subgluteal approach is where I first started blocking the sciatic nerve for total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Since I usually performed the subgluteal sciatic nerve block as a single injection (and some of the extra steps for a continuous block could be omitted) after the continuous femoral block was already secured in place,.. read more →
SAPHENOUS
This is an often overlooked nerve block for ankle and foot procedures. This furthest extension of the femoral nerve has no motor component. It serves sensory innervation to the medial aspect of the calf including the ankle and some degree of the medial aspect of the forefoot. It also has a small contribution.. read more →
POPLITEAL SCIATIC
I consider this block to be one of the basic blocks that should be learned early in the course of converting to ultrasound and continuous nerve blocks. Of the sciatic nerve blocks, it is the easiest to incorporate ultrasound (no matter your original approach or patient positioning), it is a superficial block which.. read more →
PARAVERTEBRAL
This is not a block that you should cut your teeth on, but it is the one that, in my opinion, has the most dramatic impact on the recovery of my patients. It is just awesome to speak to a patient after a thoracotomy that can take a deep breath and cough easily.. read more →