Skip to main content

Ultrasound-Guided Peripheral Nerve Blocks

  • Chapter
Basic Clinical Anesthesia

Abstract

First described in 1978, ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve blockade continues as a new and rapidly growing field in anesthesiology, due in part to the advent of more advanced ultrasound technology developed in the 1990s. This chapter describes commonly performed ultrasound-guided techniques in an easy to follow step-by-step manner. The chapter goals are to impart a recognition and appreciation of how ultrasound use in peripheral nerve block procedures may enhance the application of understanding of human anatomy by anesthesia practitioners and clinicians. Additional references are needed to better understand ultrasound terminology, physics of ultrasound, ultrasound probe selection and equipment, ultrasound knobology, and how to optimize image quality.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Further Reading

  1. Ballantyne JC, Carr DB, et al. The comparative effects of postoperative analgesic therapies on pulmonary outcome: cumulative meta-analyses of randomized, controlled trials. Anesth Analg. 1998;86:598–612.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Beattie WS, Badner NH, Choi P. Epidural analgesia reduces postoperative myocardial infarction: a meta-analysis. Anesth Analg. 2001;93:853–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Bigeleisen P, Wilson M. A comparison of two techniques for ultrasound guided infraclavicular block. Br J Anaesth. 2006;96:502–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Cash CJC, Sardesai AM, et al. Spatial mapping of the brachial plexus using three-dimensional ultrasound. Br J Radiol. 2005;78:1086–94.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Franco CD, Vieira ZE. 1,001 subclavian perivascular brachial plexus blocks: success with a nerve stimulator. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2000;25(1):41–6.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Marhofer P, Chan VW, Marhofer P, Chan VWS. Ultrasound guided regional anesthesia: current concepts and future trends. Anesth Analg. 2007;104:1265–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Schafhalter-Zoppoth I, Younger SJ, et al. The “seesaw” sign: improved sonographic identification of the sciatic nerve. Anesthesiology. 2004;101:808–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Sites BD, Brull R. Ultrasound guidance in peripheral regional anesthesia: philosophy, evidence-based medicine and techniques. Curr Opin Anaesthesiol. 2006;19:630–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Silvestri E, Martinoli C, et al. Echotexture of peripheral nerves: correlation between US and histologic findings and criteria to differentiate tendons. Radiology. 1995;197:291–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Urwin SC, Parker MJ, Griffiths R. General versus regional anesthesia for hip fracture surgery: a meta-analysis of randomized trials. Br J Anaesth. 2000;84:450–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Winnie AP, Collins VJ. The subclavian perivascular technique of brachial plexus anesthesia. Anesthesiology. 1964;25:353–63.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Wu CL, Hurley RW, Anderson GF, Herbert R, Rowlingson AJ, Fleisher LA. Effect of postoperative epidural analgesia on morbidity and mortality following surgery in medicare patients. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2004;29:525–33.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Halaszynski, T.M., Tom, M. (2015). Ultrasound-Guided Peripheral Nerve Blocks. In: Sikka, P., Beaman, S., Street, J. (eds) Basic Clinical Anesthesia. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1737-2_23

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1737-2_23

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-1736-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-1737-2

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics