الفهرس 
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Abstract
Upper extremity regional anesthesia indicated for
upper limb surgery, post-operative analgesia and chronic
pain management.
Conventional regional anesthesia techniques are
performed without visual guidance and are highly
dependent on surface anatomical landmarks for localization
of neural structures. It is, therefore, not surprising that a
reported failure rate because of incorrect needle and/or
local anesthetic placement. Multiple trial and error attempts
at needle placement lead to operator frustration,
unwarranted patient pain and time delay in the operating
room.
However, ultrasound is likely the most practical
imaging tool for assisting regional anesthesia as it is
portable, moderately priced and non-invasive without
radiation risk.
Judiciously and skillfully performed nerve blocks
can facilitate pain management, fast-tracking, allow
early mobilization, decrease hospital stay, reduce
unanticipated hospital admission, and reduce health
care costs.
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In contrast to other anesthetic techniques,
such as general or spinal anesthesia, properly conducted
peripheral nerve blocks avoid hemodynamic instability
and pulmonary complications; facilitate post-operative
pain management and timely discharge.
Additional advantages of peripheral nerve blocks
are that they can be used in patients having lumbo-sacral
disease and avoid the need for airway instrumentation.
It is almost universally accepted that these
techniques offer numerous advantages and it is very
likely that a trend toward increased interest in regional
anesthesia will continue to take place in the near future.