Abstract
Peripheral nerve blocks of the brachial plexus below the clavicle are suitable for many pediatric upper limb procedures. Axillary nerve blocks have traditionally been considered safer than blocks completed at more proximal locations due to adjacent pleura and the nearby vertebral artery and phrenic nerve. With the advent of ultrasound guidance, however, infraclavicular nerve blocks have become one of the more common block techniques used in pediatric patients undergoing upper limb surgery since this approach produces a more reliable sensory and motor blockade compared to the axillary route. Several approaches have been described for infraclavicular block; our recommended approach is a lateral needle insertion inferior or adjacent to the coracoid process. This lessens the risk of a pneumothorax when compared to a more medial injection site that is closer to the superficially located cervical pleura.
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Tsui, B.C.H. (2016). Infraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block. In: Tsui, B., Suresh, S. (eds) Pediatric Atlas of Ultrasound- and Nerve Stimulation-Guided Regional Anesthesia. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79964-3_21
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79964-3_21
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