RT Book, Section A1 Lehmann, Lance J. A2 Warfield, Carol A. A2 Bajwa, Zahid H. SR Print(0) ID 3420545 T1 Chapter 68. Peripheral Nerve Blocks T2 Principles & Practice of Pain Medicine, 2e YR 2004 FD 2004 PB The McGraw-Hill Companies PP New York, NY SN 9780071443494 LK accessanesthesiology.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=3420545 RD 2024/10/13 AB The interruption, interference, or blockade of painful stimuli has been used in the management of pain for several decades. Acute, chronic, and postoperative pain can be diminished with various types of regional anesthesia or specific nerve blocks. In the setting of chronic pain management, various peripheral nerve blocks can be diagnostic, prognostic, or therapeutic in nature. A nerve block involves the injection or infusion of a short- or long-acting local anesthetic around a peripheral sensory nerve, motor nerve, or sympathetic nerve plexus. In addition to local anesthetic, a steroid preparation may be added to decrease any suspected inflammatory process. Neurolytic nerve blocks can be performed utilizing various techniques including chemical, heat, or cold. Chemical agents such as alcohol or phenol are used for the selective destruction of nerves. Pulsed radiofrequency and cryoanalgesia cause neurolysis via heat or cold lesioning. Advances in fluoroscopic imaging and computed tomography (CT) scanning allow direct visualization and targeting of specific nerves and nerve plexuses. Other improvements include the use of nerve stimulators during interscalene and axillary blocks or sensory and motor nerve stimulation performed during radiofrequency procedures to assist in accurate needle placement.