RT Book, Section A1 Ho, Anthony M.-H. A1 Buck, Robbert A1 Latmore, Malikah A1 Levine, Matthew A1 Karmakar, Manoj K. A2 Hadzic, Admir SR Print(0) ID 1141739510 T1 Intercostal Nerve Block T2 Hadzic's Textbook of Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Management, 2e YR 2017 FD 2017 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9780071717595 LK accessanesthesiology.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1141739510 RD 2024/03/28 AB The intercostal nerves (ICNs) innervate the major parts of the skin and musculature of the chest and abdominal wall. The block of these nerves was first described by Braun in 1907 in the textbook Die Lokalanastesie.1 In the 1940s, clinicians noticed that intercostal nerve blocks (ICNBs) can reduce pulmonary complications and in opioid requirements after upper abdominal surgery.1 In 1981, continuous ICNB was introduced to overcome the problems associated with repeated multiple injections.1 Today, ICNB is used in a variety of acute and chronic pain conditions affecting the thorax and upper abdomen, including breast and chest wall surgery. Introduction of ultrasound guidance to the practice of regional anesthesia further facilitates its practice. The disadvantages of intercostal block, however, include the requirement for technical expertise, risks of pneumothorax, and local anesthetic toxicity with multiple levels of blockade.