Ultrasound guided lateral sagital infraclavicular block for pectoral flap release

Abstract

Ultrasound may provide effective guidance during nerve blocks in cases where nerve stimulation is not feasible for various reasons. We describe a 28-year-old, ASA physical status I, male patient who was operated for pectoral flap release under lateral sagittal infraclavicular block. Using ultrasound guidance alone, total volume of 30 ml of local anesthetic mixture (15 ml of levobupivacaine 5 mg/ml and 15 ml of lidocaine 20 mg/ml with 5 µg/ml epinephrine) was injected dorsal to the axillary artery. There was no vascular puncture or any other complication. The block was successful and the patient was ready for surgery 20 minutes after block performance. This case report is one of the examples that ultrasound guidance may be the only way to perform safe regional anesthesia; ultrasound guidance alone is an effective way of performing infraclavicular block.