CASE REPORT ULTRASOUND GUIDED SELECTIVE NERVE BLOCKS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF HAND INJURY: A CASE REPORT N. Mariappan1, S. Saravana Kumar2 HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: N. Mariappan, S. Saravana Kumar. ―Ultrasound Guided Selective Nerve Blocks in the Management of Hand Injury: A Case Report‖. Journal of Evidence based Medicine and Healthcare; Volume 1, Issue 11, November 17, 2014; Page: 1430-1435. INTRODUCTION: Regional anesthesia has proved to be very useful in ambulatory upper limb surgery. This technique along with ultra-sonogram guide has refined the whole concept of peripheral nerve blocks. Peripheral nerve blocks have proved to be a valuable tool for the anesthetist. With more number of day-case surgeries being done now the ultrasound guided regional anesthesia (USRA) are being used with great success, comfort and safety to the patients.[1] Ultrasound-guided brachial plexus blocks, ultra sound-guided ankle blocks, femoral and sciatic nerve blocks have been reported in many studies. In our day to day practice the peripheral nerve blocks under ultra sound guide are effective in trauma of the extremities, diabetic foot patients for surgical procedures, in the management of chronic pain in the distal parts and in a variety of hand surgeries.[2] The main advantages are comfort to the patient, cost effectiveness and good post-operative analgesia. The procedure can be safely performed in patients with medical problems and in patients who are otherwise high risk for general anesthesia. KEYWORDS: Peripheral nerves blocks, ultrasound guided hand injury, permanent pacemaker Anesthesia, Analgesia. CASE REPORT: A 34 years old male patient with Idiopathic ventricular tachycardia with a pacemaker implanted 2 years back presented to us with assault injury to his right palm. The wound was sutured elsewhere for control of bleeding. The wound suturing was not acceptable and there was some necrosis of the skin edges. Clinically there was no injury to the deeper structures. It was planned to do exploration, debridement and skin suturing. A basic workup investigation was done. The patient had a checkup for the permanent pacemaker (PPM) two weeks before the injury. Cardiologist opinion was obtained along with an echocardiogram. The patient was assessed by the anesthesiologist. It was decided to do the surgery under selective nerve blocks, continuous ECG monitoring and to avoid the use of diathermy in monopolar mode. If need be bipolar diathermy can be used with short bursts of energy. The procedure was planned as a day-case surgery and to discharge the patient after a period of observation. J of Evidence Based Med & Hlthcare, pISSN- 2349-2562, eISSN- 2349-2570/ Vol. 1/Issue 11/Nov 17, 2014 Page 1430 CASE REPORT Fig. 1: Pre-operative and intraoperative pictures Fig. 2: ECG shows left bundle branch block Anesthesia procedure: The anesthesia procedure was explained to the patient in view of his cardiac status and consent was obtained. With the patient in supine position with arm abducted and supinated skin preparation was done. A higher frequency 12 MHZ linear transducer was used which showed the nerves in short-axis view with hyper echoic with honey comb texture. Fig. 3: The anesthesia procedure under ultra sound guide a) ulnar nerve b) median nerve and c) both ulnar artery and ulnar nerve seen in the center J of Evidence Based Med & Hlthcare, pISSN- 2349-2562, eISSN- 2349-2570/ Vol. 1/Issue 11/Nov 17, 2014 Page 1431 CASE REPORT An in plane approach was used. The median nerve was blocked in the mid forearm and the ulnar nerve was blocked at the junction of the upper and middle third of the forearm. The nerves are identified as round to slightly elliptical structures and the local anesthetic agent injected in a circumferential fashion around the nerves. Table 1: The volume of drugs injected for blocks and the duration of action. For ulnar nerve block Agent concentration volume onset duration ropivacaine 0.5% 8 ml 5 min 4 hours For median nerve block Agent Concentration Volume Onset Duration ropivacaine 0.5% 8 ml 7 min 4 hours ECG monitoring was continued throughout the surgical procedure and also in the post operative period. No other analgesics or sedatives were administered. Surgical procedure: After waiting for a period of 10 minutes following the block, the limb was thoroughly prepared and draped. All the sutures were removed; the wound edges were debrided and through wash were given. Exploration was done. There was partial injury to the superficial fibers of the hypothenar muscles. All the other deeper structures were found to be intact. The injured muscles were repaired with 4-0 vicryl sutures. The skin was sutured with 4-0 ethilon and a drain was kept. Duration of surgery was 45 minutes. Care was taken not to use diathermy during the surgery. Dressing was done and the limb was kept elevated. Fig. 4: Post-operative picture Patient was kept on ECG monitoring for 6 hours and was discharged in the evening. The patient was prescribed antibiotic and paracetamol for pain, if needed. Patient was explained about the insensate limb for few hours and the need to protect against heat or pressure. J of Evidence Based Med & Hlthcare, pISSN- 2349-2562, eISSN- 2349-2570/ Vol. 1/Issue 11/Nov 17, 2014 Page 1432 CASE REPORT Review of the patient next day showed he was free of post -operative pain for almost 10 hours. There was no need to use analgesics for pain control. ECG showed no abnormalities. Healing of the wound was uneventful. DISCUSSION: The advantages of regional blocks are well documented. Peripheral nerve blocks were performed by landmark based techniques or neuro-stimulation techniques.[3] Using ultra sonogram, nerve blocks are done with much lesser volume of drug is placed circumferentially around the nerve. Advantages: Faster sensory onset Greater block success rate Lesser dose of drugs used Avoids complication of hematoma formation and damage to the nerve. Effective post-operative analgesia Can be combined with general anesthesia if the duration of surgery is prolonged, Not associated with post-operative nausea or vomiting (PONV) Can be safely used in patients with risk of respiratory depression. Saves hospital stay costs. This type of anesthesia procedure is cost-effective alternate to general anesthesia[4, 5] Complications like pneumothorax and intravascular injection are avoided. Contraindications include: Patient refusal Allergic to local anesthetic drug Infection at the site of proposed injection Preexisting neuropathy Patients on anticoagulant therapy Patients with permanent pacemakers pose a special risk for both elective and emergency surgeries. The following protocols are to be followed in such patients For elective surgery Establish whether the device is complex Cardiologists review if not checked in the last 3 months for the status of PPM Use bipolar diathermy with short bursts of energy If the operative field is greater than 50 centimeters interference is unlikely. But ECG monitoring must be continued. In case of emergency surgical procedures Follow the instructions as for elective surgery ECG monitoring Make availability of a defibrillator with external pacing functions Early Post-operative checkup for the pacemaker. J of Evidence Based Med & Hlthcare, pISSN- 2349-2562, eISSN- 2349-2570/ Vol. 1/Issue 11/Nov 17, 2014 Page 1433 CASE REPORT CONCLUSION: The use of ultra sound-guided peripheral nerve block has been an effective tool for an emergency situation in a patient with a cardiac pacemaker. The procedure can be applied to most of the surgical procedures in the extremities.[6,7,8] This procedure shortens block performance time, reduces the number of needle passes, shortens the block onset time and lesser dose of local anesthetic drugs used.[9,10,11] This case is reported since the patient had a pacemaker and was in an emergency situation which was managed comfortably with ultrasoundguided nerve block technique. REFERENCES: 1. Hammons T, Piland NF, Small SD, Hatlie MJ, Burstin HR. Ambulatory patient safety. What we know and need to know. J Ambul Care Manage 2003; 26: 63–82 2. Day Surgery. Revised Edition 2005. Available from http: //www.aagbi.org/publications/guidelines/docs/daysurgery05.pdf (last accessed October 14, 2010) 3. Nielsen KC, Steele SM. Outcome after regional anaesthesia in the ambulatory setting—is it really worth it? Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol 2002; 16: 145–57 4. Schlosser RJ, Nielsen KC, Evans H, Klein SM, Tucker MS, Steele SM. Peripheral nerve blocks for outpatient surgery. In: Hadzic A, ed. Textbook of Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Management. New York: McGraw Medical, 2007; 889–902 5. McCartney JL, Lin L, Shastri U. Evidence basis for the use of ultrasound for upper-extremity blocks. Reg Anesth Pain Med 2010; 35: S10–5 6. Klein SM, Nielsen KC, Greengrass RA, Warner DS, Martin A, Steele SM. Ambulatory discharge after long-acting peripheral nerve blockade. Anesth Analg 2002; 94: 65–70 7. Sadashivaiah JB, John JC. Feasibility and cost effectiveness of ultrasound guided supraclavicular brachial plexus block as the sole anaesthetic technique for hand surgery. J One-Day Surg 2008; 18 (Suppl): A15 8. McCahon RA, Bedforth NM. Peripheral nerve block at the elbow and wrist. Contin Educ Anaesth Crit Care Pain 2007; 7: 42–4 9. Tedore TR, YaDeau JT, Maalouf DB et al. Comparison of the transarterial axillary block and the ultrasound-guided block for upper extremity surgery: a prospective randomized trial. Reg Anesth Pain Med 2009; 34: 361–5 10. Eichenberger U, Stockli S, Marhofer P et al. Minimal local anesthetic volume for peripheral nerve block. A new ultrasound guided, nerve dimension-based method. Reg Anesth Pain Med 2009; 34: 242–6 11. Guerri-Guttenberg RA, Ingolotti M. Classifying musculocutaneous nerve variations. Clin Anat 2009; 22: 671–83. J of Evidence Based Med & Hlthcare, pISSN- 2349-2562, eISSN- 2349-2570/ Vol. 1/Issue 11/Nov 17, 2014 Page 1434 CASE REPORT AUTHORS: 1. N. Mariappan 2. S. Saravana Kumar PARTICULARS OF CONTRIBUTORS: 1. Consultant Plastic Surgeon, Department of Plastic Surgery, K. M. Hospital, Madhavaram, Chennai. 2. Assistant Professor, Department of Anaesthesia, Stanley Medical College, Chennai. NAME ADDRESS EMAIL ID OF THE CORRESPONDING AUTHOR: Dr. N. Mariappan, # 50, Janakiraman Street, Kuppu Reddy Nagar, Korattur, Chennai-600080. E-mail: [email protected] [email protected] Date Date Date Date of of of of Submission: 23/10/2014. Peer Review: 24/10/2014. Acceptance: 10/11/2014. Publishing: 14/11/2014. J of Evidence Based Med & Hlthcare, pISSN- 2349-2562, eISSN- 2349-2570/ Vol. 1/Issue 11/Nov 17, 2014 Page 1435
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