SYMPATHETIC NERVE BLOCK

Course overview

SYMPATHETIC BLOCKS ARE WIDELY USED TO TREAT VISCERAL, ISCHEMIC, NEUROPATHIC, AND SYMPATHETICALLY MEDIATED PAIN, AS WELL AS MANY OTHER CONDITIONS. MOST LARGE SYMPATHETIC GANGLIA AND PLEXI ARE ANATOMICALLY SEPARATE FROM SOMATIC NERVES IN PREVERTEBRAL AND PARAVERTEBRAL REGIONS, AND THUS ARE READILY ACCESSIBLE TO PERCUTANEOUS INTERVENTIONS. CURRENT METHODS OUTLINING THE PERFORMANCE OF SYMPATHETIC BLOCKS ARE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE, ALLEVIATE SUFFERING, AND AID IN THE RECOVERY OF A MULTITUDE OF PATIENTS. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE PHYSIOLOGICAL BASIS AND TECHNIQUES OF COMMONLY USED SYMPATHETIC NERVE BLOCKS PERTINENT TO THE MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC PAIN.