Peripheral nerve blocks for the lower extremity

Abstract

Certain steps must be taken before offering a peripheral nerve block to a patient: Surgeon and primary anesthesia care team aware and in agreement. Patient meets all criteria for surgery and anesthesia: NPO, cardiopulmonary -status, etc. Patient evaluation is complete: laboratory values, EKG, and CXR. Paperwork is completed: patient identification, surgical consent, and laterality.Contraindications to block are not present: coagulopathy, refusal (see later section).Patient consents to block: risks, benefits, and options explained.