Regional anesthesia

Surgery

Nerve block

Hematoma

Anesthesia

Morphine

Anesthetic

Narcotic

Regional anaesthesia

Narcotic analgesics

Intravenous regional anesthesia

Local anesthetic

Medicine

Clinics in Sports Medicine

Regional anesthesia has a strong role in minimizing post-operative pain, decreasing narcotic use and PONV, and, therefore, speeding discharge times. However, as with any procedure, regional anesthesia has both benefits and risks. It is important to identify the complications and contraindications related to regional anesthesia, which patient populations are at highest risk, and how to mitigate those risks to the greatest extent possible. Overall, significant complications secondary to regional anesthesia remain low. While a variety of different regional anesthesia techniques exist, complications tend to fall within 4 broad categories: block failure, bleeding/hematoma, neurological injury, and local anesthetic toxicity.

Regional Anesthesia Complications and Contraindications