Revista Médica del Hospital General de México (Jan 2024)
Recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy after left-sided supraclavicular ultrasound-guided perivascular brachial plexus block. A unique case
Abstract
Supraclavicular brachial plexus nerve block is ideal for surgical procedures of the upper limb. Ultrasound guidance continues to grow in popularity as a method of nerve localization, significantly improves the quality of nerve block with a lesser number of complications, it has the advantage of allowing real?time visualization of the plexus, pleura, and vessels along with the needle and local anesthetic spread, although complications cannot be eliminated completely. Ipsilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy is a rare complication associated with supraclavicular approach. The incidence of the RLN block occurring with supraclavicular approach is 1.3% of patients, but incidence of block with ultrasound?guided supraclavicular block is not known. There are two cases reported in the world literature, in Mexico there is no evidence in this regard. We discuss the first case report in Mexico and the third in the world of this rare complication which occurred while performing a left supraclavicular perivascular block performed under ultrasound guidance.
