INTERSCALENE BLOCK

Course overview

AN INTERSCALENE NERVE BLOCK ANESTHETIZES MOST OF THE TERRITORY INNERVATED BY THE BRACHIAL PLEXUS, SPARING THE INFERIOR TRUNK. THIS BLOCK IS GENERALLY PERFORMED ON PATIENTS UNDERGOING SHOULDER, UPPER ARM OR ELBOW SURGERY. IT IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR HAND SURGERY AS THE INFERIOR TRUNK MAY BE SPARED. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE INDICATIONS, CONTRAINDICATIONS, AND TECHNIQUE INVOLVED IN PERFORMING AN INTERSCALENE NERVE BLOCK AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE CARE OF PATIENTS UNDERGOING THIS PROCEDURE.