Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Intravenous Regional Anesthesia

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Intravenous Regional Anesthesia

Intravenous regional anesthesia or the Bier block technique is used to anesthetize a specific limb or extremity. It uses exsanguinated or blood-drained vessels to transport local anesthetics or LAs to the peripheral nerve trunks. Lidocaine without vasoconstrictors like epinephrine is most commonly used for this technique. Other drugs used are prilocaine, ropivacaine, and chloroprocaine. Bupivacaine is not recommended for this technique due to its high cardiac toxicity.
One of the advantages of...

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Surface, Infiltration, and Conduction Block Anesthesia

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Surface, Infiltration, and Conduction Block Anesthesia

Depending on the target organ, local anesthetics (LAs) can be administered via various routes. In surface anesthesia, LAs are applied directly to the surface of the skin or mucous membranes. It is widely used for topical skin numbing before venipuncture or minor surgical procedures. Commonly used surface local anesthetics are lidocaine or benzocaine sprays or creams. Surface anesthesia occurs within 5 minutes and lasts for about 60 minutes. One of the main disadvantages of topical anesthesia is...

Nondepolarizing (Competitive) Neuromuscular Blockers: Mechanism of Action

Nondepolarizing (Competitive) Neuromuscular Blockers: Mechanism of Action

Nondepolarizing neuromuscular blockers induce paralysis by competitively blocking nicotinic acetylcholine receptors at the muscle end plate. Examples include pancuronium, mivacurium, vecuronium, and rocuronium. These quaternary ammonium derivatives are administered intravenously, are poorly absorbed, and are excreted via the kidneys.
Competitive antagonists prevent acetylcholine from binding to its receptor, inhibiting membrane depolarization. Without conformational changes or intrinsic...

Local Anesthetics: Differential Sensitivity of Nerve Fibers

Local Anesthetics: Differential Sensitivity of Nerve Fibers

Local anesthetics (LAs) block the sodium channels of nerve trunks, sensory nerve endings, and neuromuscular junctions. Although LAs can block all kinds of nerves, the sensitivity of nerve fibers differs according to nerve types and structures. LAs are known to block myelinated fibers faster than unmyelinated ones. Also, they block pain or sensory neurons at low concentrations without affecting the motor neurons involved in muscle contractions. This helps relieve labor pain without affecting the...

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Spinal Anesthesia

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Spinal Anesthesia

Spinal anesthetics are given during lower abdomen and limb surgeries to block sensory and motor neurons. They are administered in the mid to low lumbar regions, primarily acting on the cauda equina's nerve roots. The blockade level depends on the local anesthetic (LA) concentration. Usually, low LA concentrations are sufficient to block sensory fibers, while only high LA concentrations block motor fibers. Other factors like injection volume and speed, the patient's posture, and the drug...

Nondepolarizing (Competitive) Neuromuscular Blockers: Pharmacological Actions

Nondepolarizing (Competitive) Neuromuscular Blockers: Pharmacological Actions

Nondepolarizing neuromuscular blockers prevent the membrane depolarization of muscle cells and inhibit muscle contraction. These are usually administered with anesthetics to achieve complete muscle relaxation. Upon administration, these drugs first block the small, rapidly contracting muscles of the face and hands, followed by the larger muscles of the trunk and the intercostal muscles. The diaphragm is the last muscle to be affected.
Although all competitive neuromuscular blockers are designed...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Continuous Erector Spinae Plane Block for Postoperative Analgesia After Intestinal Resection and Hernia Repair Surgery: A Case Report.

The American journal of case reports·2025

Same author

Benchmarking microfluidic and immunomagnetic platforms for isolating circulating tumor cells in pancreatic cancer.

Lab on a chip·2025

Same author

Corrigendum to "Does spinal chloroprocaine pharmacokinetic profile actually translate into a clinical advantage in terms of clinical outcomes when compared to low-dose spinal bupivacaine? A systematic review and meta-analysis" [Journal of Clinical Anesthesia 2019;52: 99-104].

Journal of clinical anesthesia·2025

Same author

Tensor Fasciae Latae and Gluteus Maximus Muscles: Do They Contribute to Hip Abduction?

Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society·2024

Same author

Endoscopic Retrieval of a Metallic Cross in a Patient With Acute Psychosis and Religious Delusions.

ACG case reports journal·2024

Same author

Cerebrospinal fluid pressure dynamics across the intra- and postoperative setting: Retrospective study of a spine surgery cohort.

Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia·2024

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 20, 2026

Electrophysiological Methods to Assess Peripheral Pain Block in an Anesthetized Rat

Electrophysiological Methods to Assess Peripheral Pain Block in an Anesthetized Rat

Published on: November 21, 2025

The role of continuous peripheral nerve blocks.

José Aguirre¹, Alicia Del Moral, Irina Cobo

¹Division of Anesthesiology, Balgrist University Hospital, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland.

Anesthesiology Research and Practice

|July 5, 2012

Summary

Continuous peripheral nerve blocks (cPNBs) offer significant benefits for acute and chronic pain management, improving patient outcomes and reducing analgesic needs. However, long-term quality of life data after catheter removal is still limited.

More Related Videos

An Ultrasonic Tool for Nerve Conduction Block in Diabetic Rat Models

An Ultrasonic Tool for Nerve Conduction Block in Diabetic Rat Models

Published on: October 20, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 20, 2026

Electrophysiological Methods to Assess Peripheral Pain Block in an Anesthetized Rat

Electrophysiological Methods to Assess Peripheral Pain Block in an Anesthetized Rat

Published on: November 21, 2025

An Ultrasonic Tool for Nerve Conduction Block in Diabetic Rat Models

An Ultrasonic Tool for Nerve Conduction Block in Diabetic Rat Models

Published on: October 20, 2017

Area of Science:

Anesthesiology
Pain Management
Regional Anesthesia

Background:

Continuous peripheral nerve blocks (cPNBs) are utilized in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
Commonly used for peri- and postoperative pain, cPNBs also serve as an indication for chronic pain conditions like cancer pain, complex regional pain syndrome, and phantom limb pain.

Purpose of the Study:

To provide a comprehensive overview of the advantages and adverse effects associated with continuous peripheral nerve blocks.
To review the current evidence on the benefits of cPNBs, including immediate and potential prolonged effects.

Main Methods:

This review synthesizes evidence from randomized controlled trials and existing literature.
Focuses on documented benefits and adverse effects of cPNBs in various clinical settings.

Main Results:

CPNBs demonstrate numerous benefits, including reduced baseline and dynamic pain, decreased analgesic requirements, and lower inflammation.
Improvements are noted in patient satisfaction, ambulation, sleep, and reduction in opioid-related side effects.
Potential benefits include reduced blood loss, shorter hospital stays, and possibly a lower incidence of chronic postsurgical pain.

Conclusions:

CPNBs offer substantial advantages in pain management and patient recovery.
Further research is needed to establish the medium- and long-term benefits of cPNBs on quality of life, particularly after catheter removal.