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ANESTHESIA ALERT
Jerome M. Adams, MD, MPH, and Ryan D. Nagy, MD
Are Continuous Peripheral Nerve Blocks for You?
They can be, with the proper patient selection and good education.
A
s more patients and providers experience the benefits of single-shot regional anesthesia in outpatient settings, many are
wondering whether they can take the next step, asking, "Can
we improve things further by using continuous peripheral nerve
blockade?" The answer is a qualified yes. CPNB is being used more
often in outpatient settings and the results have generally been positive. There are risks to consider, however, including infection, the
potential for respiratory distress, local anesthetic systemic toxicity
and falls.
What you can do to minimize risks
ON TARGET One of the best ways to minimize CPNB-related risks is ultrasound,
which provides real-time visualization and decreases insertion time and discomfort.
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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 | S E P T E M B E R 2013
All photos: Jerome M. Adams, MD, MPH, and Ryan D. Nagy, MD
The keys to minimizing those risks boil down to careful patient and
