Brachial Plexus Anaesthesia and Analgesia

The chapter focuses on regional anaesthesia procedures, especially brachial plexus anaesthesia and analgesia for interventions at the upper extremities. The chapter will cover necessary background knowledge and scientific principles, as well as anatomical knowledge for the four different plexus techniques. These four techniques are interscalene brachial plexus nerve block, supraclavicular brachial plexus nerve block, infraclavicular brachial plexus nerve block and axillary brachial nerve block. For this purpose, the theoretical anatomy is combined with the sonographic representation of the guiding structures. The possible localizations for plexus anaesthesia infiltration and the performance of the procedure are described, as well as the indications and contraindications, possible complications and their avoidance. The pharmacological aspects of usage and dosage of local anaesthetics for single-shot and catheter-based procedures are also discussed. In summary, this chapter provides the necessary theoretical knowledge as a basis for carrying out this procedure safely and ensure high medical standards.