Upper Limb Block Anesthesia

Regional anesthesia, particularly the use of peripheral nerve blocks allows for localized, targeted anesthesia for both surgical anesthesia, as well as an adjunct to general anesthesia for postoperative pain control. By focusing on a specific location, systemic, generalized adverse effects can be avoided. Performing a targeted peripheral nerve block can be a significant part of a multimodal analgesic approach in order to reduce opioid use. To perform a peripheral nerve block, the provider must have the appropriate equipment (peripheral nerve needles, local anesthetics, ultrasound, etc.) and a targeted nerve structure. Surgical duration should be taken into account when choosing a local anesthetic for a true surgical block. Literature has shown that one of the most important factors is the mass or total dosage of the local anesthetic. Multiple adjuncts can be used in combination with local anesthetics to decrease the time of onset, increase duration, and increase the quality and density of the block.