Bronchospasm following interscalene brachial plexus block

Abstract

Complications from an interscalene brachial plexus nerve block range from Horner's syndrome, hoarseness, carotid bruit, to more serious complications, such as subarachnoid, epidural, or phrenic nerve blocks. Permanent neurologic damage and cardiac arrest also has been reported. We observed two cases of bronchospasm that occurred in nonasthmatic patients immediately following the use of this technique.