How is a peripheral nerve block performed?
Depending on the location of surgery, a peripheral nerve block can be given in the shoulder-arm, back or leg regions. Typically, you will either be lying flat on your back (supine) or lying on your side (lateral) but occasionally may even be on your stomach (prone). The block is administered at an appropriate location to provide anesthesia for the surgery. Before the block is performed, your skin will be cleansed with an antiseptic solution. The anesthesiologist will use local anesthesia to numb an area of where the peripheral nerve block will be administered.For peripheral nerve blocks, a special needle or catheter is placed near the cluster of nerves that need to be numbed for surgery. Occasionally, the needle will touch a nerve, causing a brief tingling sensation down the extremity where the regional block is being performed. The needle may also be used to temporarily obtain muscle twitches in the extremity where surgery will occur. Specific Nerve Blocks This section will provide yo
