Up-to-date ultrasound-guided nerve block techniques
Nomura, T.
Masui. Japanese Journal of Anesthesiology 63(9): 1002-1010
2014
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-4892 PMID: 25255662 Document Number: 676291
Ultrasound guidance for regional anesthesia has gained enormous popularity in the past decade. The usage of ultrasound guidance has reawaken many block techniques in daily clinical practice. In this review, the author described how the ultrasound guidance has changed the manner of intraoperative and postoperative analgesic methods. Here, interscalene block, transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block, paravertebral block and femoral nerve block were discussed. Those success rates increased using sonography, whereas the complications decreased. Advanced sonography shows the clear images of the detailed nerve tissues, so that we can perform the more pin-pointed nerve block considering postoperative benefits of patients. However, it must never be forgotten that both the pre-scan examination before a needle insertion and the continuous watching of an advancing needle tip are essential to perform safer regional anesthesia techniques.