Peripheral Nerve Blocks in the Outpatient Surgery Setting

Peripheral nerve blocks involve injecting local anesthesia near or around a nerve or nerve plexus. This form of anesthesia allows surgeons to perform more complex surgeries and provides extended postoperative analgesia for patients. Patients experience reduced postoperative pain and length of hospital stay and increased satisfaction with the outcome of surgery because they are less likely to experience adverse effects. Use of peripheral nerve blocks in an outpatient setting is becoming more common and has increased the perioperative nurse's patient care responsibilities. The nurse must perform a preblock assessment and assist the anesthesia professional with administration of the block. Major responsibilities of the nurse include identifying and managing potential adverse effects (eg, pneumothorax, toxicity) associated with block administration and patient discharge education.