How do I assure that my Supraclavicular (and Other) CPNB catheters will be a success?
This post is an adaptation of a question that was emailed to me by Dr Sharanu Patil, an anesthesiologist at SPARSH Hospital in Bangalore, India. Dr Patil has has been using ‘ultrasound only’ techniques for seven years and has regular success utilizing ultrasound-guided single injection supraclavicular nerve blocks, however, he has found that inserting catheters leads to a variability in success. Let’s start with the assumption that, like Dr Patil, you have good fundamental ultrasound skills and can recognize the sonoanatomy and appropriate local anesthetic spread. The problem stated once more is that you find catheter infusions unpredictable or unreliable. That is, when catheters are used, you have primary block success, but secondary block failure.