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Great auricular nerve blockade using high resolution ultrasound: a volunteer study
Author(s) -
Thallaj A.,
Marhofer P.,
Moriggl B.,
Delvi B. M.,
Kettner S. C.,
Almajed M.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.839
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2044
pISSN - 0003-2409
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2044.2010.06443.x
Subject(s) - medicine , mepivacaine , blockade , ultrasound , nerve block , local anaesthetic , volunteer , nerve stimulator , local anesthetic , anesthesia , anatomy , radiology , biology , agronomy , receptor
Summary This prospective, observational volunteer study aimed to describe the appearance of the great auricular nerve using ultrasound and its blockade under ultrasound guidance. An in‐plane needle guidance technique was used for blockade of the great auricular nerve with 0.1 ml mepivacaine 1%. Sensory block was evaluated by pinprick testing in comparison with the contralateral area propriae. The great auricular nerve was successfully seen in all volunteers and the tail of the helix, antitragus, lobula and mandibular angle were blocked in all cases whereas the antihelix and concha were never blocked. Ultrasound imaging of the great auricular nerve can be reliably achieved and successful blockade with minimal volumes of local anaesthetic is another example of the benefits of ultrasound‐guided peripheral nerve blocks.