1. Lecturer of Anesthesia, Intensive Care and Pain Management
TRUNCAL BLOCKS BY
KARIM YOUSSEF, MD
Lecturer of Anesthesia, Intensive Care and Pain Management
Ain Shams University

2. INTERCOSTAL NERVE BLOCK

3. Anatomy of the intercostal nerve
They are 12 pairs of thoracic anterior primary rami.
Intercostal nerves 3–6 (the ‘typical’ intercostal nerves)

4. Anatomy of the intercostal nerve
They enter their intercostal spaces across the anterior aspect of the corresponding superior costotransverse ligament to lie below the intercostal vessels, first between the posterior intercostal membrane and the pleura and then, at the rib angles, between the internal intercostal and the innermost intercostal muscles.
Near the margin of the sternum, each nerve passes in front of the internal thoracic vessels and sternocostalis muscle and pierces the internal intercostal muscle, anterior intercostal membrane and the overlying pectoralis major to become an anterior cutaneous nerve of the thorax.

5. Atypical intercostal nerves
The 1st intercostal nerve (T1) Passes across the front of the neck of the 1st rib, lateral to the superior intercostal artery, to enter into the composition of the brachial plexus.
The 2nd intercostal nerve: its lateral cutaneous branch crosses the axilla to supply the skin of the medial aspect of the upper arm (intercostobracbial nerve).
The 7th to 11th intercostal nerves enter the abdominal wall between the interdigitations of the diaphragm with transversus abdominis.
The 12th thoracic (subcostal) nerve runs along the lower border of the 12th rib below the subcostal vessels, passes behind the lateral arcuate ligament to run in front of quadratus lumborum then passes between transversus abdominis and internal oblique.

6. Indications of intercostal nerve block
Any pain from chest wall and upper abdominal wall like:
Cancer pain.
Rib fractures.
Chronic painful inflammation like herpes zoster.

7. Technique

8. Technique of intercostal nerve block
Patient is in prone position.
By index finger displace the skin over rib in the posterior axillary line .
Needle inserted perpendicular to skin until bony contact with the desired rib is made.
The needle is walked off the lower edge of rib until bony contact is lost, the needle is advanced 3-5 mm deeper.

9. Complications of Intercostal block
Pneumothorax:
Occur relatively in 1% to 2% of patients.
Local anesthetic toxicity:
Because of rapid absorption from this site.
Infection.

10. INTAPLEURAL BLOCK

11. Interpleural Block
Unilateral perioperative analgesia : Cholecystectomy, renal or breast op.
Upper extremity ischemic and neuropathic pain, thoracic herpes zoster, pancreatitis, and thoracic cancer pain.

12. Anatomy & technique Lat. Or semiprone position.
Ipsilateral arm should hang across the body, retract the scapula anteriorly.
Endpoint for entry into the interpleural space is detection of negative interpleural pressure.
5~8th intercostal space, selected rib, 8~10cm lat. to the midline.
Perpendicular to the skin, over rib, and walked cephalad until contact the sup. Edge of rib is lost.
Passive loss of resistance.

13. Dosing Supine ; intercostal block with less sympathetic block
Head up : Upper abdominal visceral pain
Head down : upper thoracic and cervical spread
Lt. Side : pancreatic, gastric, or splenic pain
Rt. Side : hepatic, gallbladder pain
Therapeutic dose : 20~30ml of 0.25~0.5% bupivacaine over 2~3minutes

14. Complication
Traumatic injury : Pneumothorax (2%), catheter malposition.
Systemic effect from drug : Inflammation of pleural membranes, local anesthetic toxicity(1.3%), Pleural effusion (0.4%).
Etc. : Horner’s syndrome, phrenic n. palsy, bronchopleural fistula formation, injury to the neurovascular bundle.

15. PARAVERTEBRAL NERVE BLOCK (PVNB)

16. Common Indications SURGICAL ANESTHESIA: POSTOPERATIVE ANALGESIA:
Breast surgery
Herniorrhaphy
Chest wound exploration
POSTOPERATIVE ANALGESIA:
Thoracic surgery
Breast surgery
Cholecystectomy
Renal and ureteric surgery
Herniorrhaphy
Appendectomy
Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery
MISCELLANEOUS
Fractured ribs
Therapeutic control of hyperhydrosis
Liver capsule pain after blunt trauma
Acute postherpetic neuralgia

17. Regional Anatomy Wedge shaped area on both sides of vertebra
BOUNDARIES:
Anterior/lateral: Parietal pleura
Posterior: Superior costo- transverse ligament
Medial: Postero-lateral aspect of the vertebral body, intervertebral disc and the intervertebral foramen
COMMUNICATIONS:
Intercostal space laterally.
Epidural space medially.
Paravertebral space on the other side via the prevertebral and epidural space.

18. Patient position & landmarks
Position : Sitting or lateral decubitus, with kyphotic attitude supported by a attendant.
Landmarks :
Spinous processes along the midline
Tip of scapula : T10
Paramedian line 2.5 cms lateral to midline

19. Technique
At thoracic level : Spinous process of upper vertebrae is at level of transverse process of lower spine.
Needle Insertion Point: 2.5 cm lateral to the tip of spinous process.
Saggital section through the thoracic paravertebral space showing a needle that has been advanced above the transverse process.

20. Technique Procedure consists of 3 maneuvers
Contacting transverse processes of individual vertebrae (depth 2-4 cms).
Withdrawing needle to skin level and reinserting it 10 deg caudal or cranial.
Inserting needle 1 cm deeper than level of transverse processes.
Called “Walking Off” (Cranially/Caudally)

21. Technique

22. Technique (Continuous Thoracic paravertebral block)
The same method can be modified and a catheter can be placed in the paravertebral space for giving more prolonged postoperative analgesia.
A Touhy’s needle is used for the procedure and a catheter is inserted 5 cms beyond the tip of the needle.
Catheter is ideally inserted 1-2 segmental levels below the thoracotomy incision.

23. Commonly used drugs Onset (min) Anesthesia (hrs) Analgesia (hrs)
2% Lidocaine (plus HCO3 + epinephrine)
10-15
2-3
3-4
0.5% Bupivacaine (plus epinephrine)
15-25
4-6
12-18
0.5% I-Bupivacaine (plus epinephrine)
12-25

24. Local Anesthetic: 3-4 ml/ level for multiple level block, ml for single level, and 0.1 ml/kg/h. Appropriate drugs: bupivacaine %, ropivacaine %, or lidocaine 1%; with epinephrine (2.5 μg/ml).
Mechanism and Spread of Anesthesia: 15 ml bupivacaine 0.5% in TPVs produces unilateral somatic block over 5 (range: 1-9) dermatomes, and sympathetic block over 8 (range 6-10) dermatomes.
Possible areas of spread:
May remain localized
May spread to contiguous levels above and below
Intercostal space laterally
Epidural space, mostly unilateral and insignificant, in up to 70%
Single ml injection as effective as multiple 3-4 ml/site.
Increasing volume may predispose to bilateral anesthesia
If a wide block (≥ 5 dermatomes) is desired, preferable to do multiple injections, or 2 injections several dermatomes apart

25. Contraindications ABSOLUTE Infection at the site of needle insertion.
Empyema.
Allergy to local anesthetic drugs, and
Tumor occupying the TPVS.
RELATIVE
Coagulopathy
Kyphoscoliosis (chest deformity may predispose to pleural or thecal puncture)
Patient with previous thoracotomy: TPVB may be obliterated by scar tissue and adhesion of lung to chest wall

26. Complications and ways to avoid them
Infection
- A strict aseptic technique should be used
Hematoma
- Avoid multiple needle insertions in anticoagulated patients
Local anesthetic toxicity
- Rare - Large volumes of long-acting anesthetic should be reconsidered in older and frail patients - Consider using chloroprocaine for skin infiltration to decrease the total dose/volume of the more toxic, long-acting local anesthetic
Nerve injury
- Local anesthetic should never be injected when a patient complains of severe pain or exhibits a withdrawal reaction on injection
Total spinal anesthesia
- Avoid medial angulation of the needle, which can result in an inadvertent epidural or subarachnoid needle placement - Aspirate before injection (for blood and CSF)
Quadriceps muscle weakness
- This can occur when the levels are not accurately determined and the levels below L1 are blocked (femoral nerve; L2-4)
Paravertebral muscle pain
-Paravertebral muscle pain, resembling a muscle spasm, is occasionally seen, particularly in young, muscular men and when a larger gauge Tuohy needle is used - Injection of local anesthetic into the paravertebral muscle before needle insertion and the use of a smaller gauge (e.g. 22 gauge) Quincke tip needle is suggested to avoid this side effect

27. TRANSVERSUS ABDOMINIS PLANE (TAP) BLOCK

28. Anatomy of transversus abdominis plane (TAP)
The anterior abdominal wall (skin, muscles, parietal peritoneum) is innervated by the anterior rami T7 to T12 and L1.
Terminal branches of them course through the lateral abdominal wall within a plane between the internal oblique and transversus abdominis muscles.
Injection of local anesthetic within the TAP produce unilateral analgesia to the skin, muscles, and parietal peritoneum.

29. Indications of TAP block
For supplementary anesthesia or analgesia for lower abdominal surgery like:
Inguinal hernia.
Cesarean section.

30. Technique of transversus abdominis block
Needle is inserted at triangle of Petit bounded by the latissimus dorsi muscle posteriorly, the external oblique muscle anteriorly and the iliac crest inferiorly.
A needle is inserted perpendicular to enter TAP plane after two pops.
The first pop: penetration of the external oblique fascia.
The second pop: penetration of internal oblique muscle.

31. Ulrasound guided technique for TAP block
Patient is placed in a supine position and the abdomen is exposed between the costal margin and the iliac crest.
Identify the three muscular layers of the abdominal wall: the external oblique (most superficial), the internal oblique and transversus abdominis muscles.
Among the three muscles, the internal oblique muscle is the most prominent layer.

32. Ultrasound guided TAP block (cont)
Needle is inserted in-plane with the transducer, in an antero-posterior direction.
Choosing an insertion point some distance away from the transducer improves needle shaft and tip visualization.
Deposit local anesthetic deep to the fascial layer that separates the internal oblique and transversus abdominis muscles.

33. INGUINAL BLOCK

34. Anatomy Innervation of the inguinal region lumbar plexus nerves:
Ilioinguinal, Iliohypogastric nerves (L1).
Genitofemoral nerve (L1,L2).
These nerves coarse anteriorly near an important landmark for the block , the anterior superior iliac spine.
The ilioinguinal nerve lies between the transversus abdominis muscle and the internal oblique muscle initially and then penetrates the internal oblique muscle some distance medial to the anterior superior iliac spine.
The iliohypogastric nerve lies between the internal and external oblique muscles near the anterior superior iliac spine.
The genitofemoral nerve follows a different coarse, and it is this nerve that must often be supplemented intraoperatively.
All these nerves continue anteriorly in a medial orientation and become superficial as they terminate in the skin and muscles of the inguinal region.

35. Course of the ilioinguinal, iliohypogastric, and genitofemoral nerves.
Course of the ilioinguinal, iliohypogastric, and genitofemoral nerves. The circle indicates area infiltrated with local analgesic for each block. The centre of the circle (dotted line) indicates the point of insertion of the needle for each nerve block.

36. Technique of inguinal block
The anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) should be marked while the patient is supine. Another mark should be made approx. 3 cm. medial and inferior to the ASIS.
A skin wheal is created, and a 8-cm, 22-gauge needle is inserted in a cephalolateral direction to contact the inner surface of ilium. 10 mm of local anesthetic is injected as the needle is slowly withdrawn through the layers of the abdominal wall.
The needle should then reinserted at a steeper angle to ensure penetration of the three muscle layers.
From the previously placed skin wheal, the injection is extended toward the umbilicus, creating a subcutaneous field block.

37. CELIAC PLEXUS BLOCK

38. Anatomy for celiac plexus block
Celiac plexus is situated retroperitoneally in paravertebral areolar tissue at anterolateral edge of the first lumbar vertebra on both sides.
It lies posterior to the stomach and pancreas, anterior to the crura of diaphragm and the aorta.
The numbar of ganglia varies from 1 to 5 on both sides.
It receives afferent fibers of both sympathetic and parasympathetic from viscera.
The celiac plexus provides innervation to most of the gut from the lower esophagus to the level of the splenic flexure of the colon.

39. Indications of celiac plexus block
Cancer from upper abdomen: cancer stomach or pancreas.
Chronic non malignant pain from upper abdomen

40. Classic retrocrural technique (deep splanchnic approach)
Triangle is made between 3 points: spine between T 12 & L 1 and lower edges of 12th rib on both sides.
Needle is inserted just cauded to 12th rib 7 cm lateral to midline, 45 degree from horizontal plane & 15 degree cephaled until bony contact with L1 vertebral body is made.
Needle is withdrawn & redirected laterally about 1-2 cm, at this point aortic pulsations may be felt and the local anesthetic is injected retroaortic.

41. Other techniques of celiac block
Posterior approaches:
Classic Retrocrural (Deep splanchnic) Approach
Transcrural (Antecrural) Celiac Block
Transaortic Celiac Neurolysis
Transintervertebral Disc approach
Anterior approaches:
Intraoperative Celiac Neurolysis
Percutaneous Anterior Celiac Neurolysis
Transcatheter Neurolysis
Endoscopic ultrasound-Guided Celiac Plexus Block

42. SUPERIOR HYPOGASTRIC BLOCK

43. Anatomy of superior hypogastric nerve
The superior hypogastric plexus is a retroperitoneal structure that extends bilaterally anterior to the vertebral column between L5 and S1 vertebral bodies.
It is formed by pelvic visceral afferents and efferent sympathetic nerves from branches of the aortic plexus, and fibers from the splanchnic nerves.
It divides into two lateral portions which travel inferiorly to end as inferior hypogastric plexus.

44. Indications of superior hypogastric block
Any pain from:
Lower urinary tract: bladder & urethra.
Lower GIT: descending colon & rectum.
Female genital tract: uterus, vagina & vulva.
Male genital tract: prostate, penis &testes.
Perineum.

45. Technique of superior hypogastric block
The patient will be in prone position.
Needle is introduced 6 cm lateral to spine of L4.
Directed 45 degrees medial and caudal until its tip comes anterior to vertebral body of L5 under fluoroscopic guidance.

46. GANGLION IMPAR BLOCK

47. Anatomy of the ganglion Impar
The ganglion impar is the only unpaired autonomic ganglion in the body.
Marks the end of the two sympathetic chains.
Located retroperitonially anterior to the sacrococcygeal joint.

48. Indication of ganglion Impar block
Any pain from:
Perineum.
Distal rectum & anus.
Distal urethra.
Distal third of vagina & vulva.
Prostate & testes.

49. Technique of ganglion Impar block
The patient in the prone position.
Needle is inserted in the sacral cornu to pierce the dorsal sacrococcygeal ligament at the midline.
The needle is then advanced to pierce the ventral sacrococcygeal ligament, felt as a loss of resistance.

50. QUESTIONS Patient position in intercostal nerve block can be:
Prone.
Lateral.
Supine.
All of the above.
One of important indications of paravertebral block:
Patients in whom neuroaxial techniques may be containdicated owing to hypotension or coagulopathy.
Infection at site of injection.
Allergy to local anesthetic.
Tumor in paravertebral space.

51. Triangle of Petit boundaries are:
Latissmus dorsi, iliac crest, external oblique.
Latissmus dorsi, internal oblique, transversus abdominis.
External oblique, internal oblique, latissmus dorsi.
Transversus abdominis, iliac crest, external oblique.
Nerves that supply inguinal region:
Ilioinguinal, iliohypogastric, genitofemoral
Lateral cutaneous nerve of thigh, ilioinguinal, obturator.
Iliohypogastric, genitofemoral, sciatic
Femoral, dorsal nerve of penis, ilioinguinal.
Celiac plexus is situated retroperitoneally at anterolateral edge of: L1 L4 L5 S1

52. THANK YOU