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 →
LUMBAR PLEXUS
I find this block to be one of the few, whether single injection or continuous, where the impact of ultrasound utilization is not as dramatic an improvement as it is with most other nerve blocks. This comes from a few different variables. One, it is usually a deep block, so visualization of structures.. read more →
FEMORAL
The femoral nerve is seen to the left of the femoral artery and vein as a hyperechoic (white) triangle in the ultrasound image to the left. This is often one of the first nerve block to master with ultrasound because it is a relatively simple and superficial option and also probably because Total.. read more →
FASCIA ILIACA
I know I keep saying that this or that block is one of the ‘easy ones’, but this one really is another one of them. There are only a few simple essentials to identify on the image, and this block is also a good one to perform early as you are developing ultrasound.. read more →
INTERSCALENE
Converting from nerve stimulation to ultrasound for an interscalene nerve block classically involves going to a more posterior approach. This is also the case when changing from the traditional single injection to a continuous nerve block. For reasonable catheter securement issues as well as optimizing visualization with ultrasound, it becomes necessary to enter the skin several.. read more →
SUBCOSTAL TAP
As I mentioned in the previous section, I believe that the subcostal TAP block is even easier than the TAP block. With the TAP block, the main difficulty is getting within (or just below or above) the fascial plane without puncturing the bowel. This can involve a significant amount of scraping or jabbing.. read more →
ANTERIOR SCIATIC
I think that this is the first nerve block that I have introduced on this website where I will not say “this is an easy block that you should start on early in your course of learning ultrasound nerve blocks”. Again, it will certainly come to you, but it is not the easiest.. read more →
Total Shoulder, Bad Lungs
NOT MY USUAL STRATEGY I’ve mentioned elsewhere on this site that I have successfully taken care of many patients with this particular scenario, even those who are ‘oxygen-dependent’. The basic dilemma is whether to offer an interscalene block to someone that may have respiratory embarrassment due to spread to the phrenic nerve, knowing that without.. read more →
Arteries through C5
Over and over again, I am reaffirmed of the of the ‘everyday advantages’ of utilizing ultrasound for peripheral nerve blocks. … REGISTER for FREE to become a SUBSCRIBER or LOGIN HERE to see the full article! read more →