plexus block
Last reviewed 01/2018
A plexus block entails anaesthesia of a group of nerves - motor, sensory and sympathetic - for a region of the body.
Examples include:
- brachial plexus block:
- can be reached via an axillary or supraclavicular approach
- fine catheter is placed in the outer sheath of the brachial plexus and local anaesthetic is infused
- capable of providing total anaesthesia for the upper limb
- cervical plexus block:
- can be achieved at several levels, e.g. injection of 10ml of local anaesthetic at the C3 vertebra will provide a deep cervical block from C1 to C4
- can be used for anaesthesia during neck dissection
- coeliac plexus block