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Chapter 11a - Regional Anesthesia: Blocks of the Upper and Lower Extremities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 May 2023

By
Peter Amato ,
Brittany Deiling ,
Erik Helander ,
Jinlei Li ,
Chikezie N. Okeagu ,
Michael McManus ,
Annemarie Senekal ,
Christopher M. Sharrow ,
Ashley Shilling  and
Alan David Kaye
...Show all authors
Edited by
Alan David Kaye  and
Richard D. Urman
Alan David Kaye
Affiliation:
Louisiana State University School of Medicine
Richard D. Urman
Affiliation:
Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston
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Summary

A regional block, also known as a localized block, is a type of anesthetic that blocks nerve transmission to prevent or alleviate pain. Regional anesthesia is the process of injecting an anesthetic substance into a peripheral nerve and inhibiting transmission to avoid or treat pain. It is distinct from general anesthesia in that it does not alter the patient’s level of awareness to alleviate pain. There are numerous advantages of regional anesthesia over general anesthesia, including avoidance of airway manipulation, lower dosages, fewer systemic medication adverse effects, shorter recovery period, and considerably less discomfort following surgery.

Type
Chapter
Information
Cambridge Handbook of Anesthesiology , pp. 161 - 172
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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References

Further Reading

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