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A N E S T H E S I A
PATIENT SELECTION
Who Benefits From Nerve Blocks?
P
eripheral nerve blocks aren't always 100% of your anesthesia solution. While
you can successfully perform shoulder, arm, wrist and hand surgeries with
just a block and some sedation, surgeries from the knee through the ankle
often require the assistance of general anesthesia and post-op opioids. Here's a
breakdown of procedures ideally suited for blocks as well as those when blocks
— Emily DeBusk, RN
aren't your best option.
Ideal Procedures for Blocks
Less-Than-Ideal Procedures
• total shoulder repair
for Blocks
• rotator cuff repair
• craniotomy
• proximal humerus fracture
• spinal surgery
(distal isn't ideal due to chance
of radial nerve injury)
(fusion and discectomies, for example)
• cardiac procedures
• wrist fracture
(abdominal aortic aneurysm
• hernia repairs
and valve repair, for example)
• mastectomy
• esophagogastroduodenoscopy
• total knee arthroplasty
• colonoscopy
• ACL repairs
• surgeries of the bladder, pancreas or
• ankle fractures
GI system
• ankle arthroscopy
• gastric bypass
• bunionectomy
• amputation
N O V E M B E R 2012 | O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E
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