Understanding Anesthesiology - The Global Regional Anesthesia ...

Brachial plexus block
The brachial plexus block is a technique used to provide surgical anesthesia for the upper
limb. The brachial plexus is formed from the anterior primary rami of the C5-T1 nerve roots
and supplies all of the motor function, and most of the sensory function of the upper extremity.
It can be accessed with a needle (and therefore blocked) at several locations: axillary, supraclavicular,
interscalene. The choice of approach is determined by which nerves are most important
to block (based on surgical site) and which complications are most important to
avoid (based on patient co-morbidities). For example, the axillary approach will provide unreliable
blockade of the more proximal arm. The supraclavicular approach and interscalene
approaches carry the risk of pneumothorax and phrenic nerve block.
Related Glossary Terms
Bier Block, Brachial plexus, Bupivacaine, Lidocaine, Local anesthetic toxicity, Phrenic
nerve, Pneumothorax, Regional anesthesia
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Chapter 3 - Anesthetic Techniques
Chapter 3 - Regional Anesthesia
Chapter 3 - Regional Anesthesia