Prolonged hemidiaphragmatic paresis following continuous interscalene brachial plexus block: A case report

• Published in: Medicine (Baltimore) Vol. 95; no. 24; p. e3891
• Main Authors: Shinn, Helen Ki, Kim, Byung-Gun, Jung, Jong Kwon, Kwon, Hee Uk, Yang, Chunwoo, Won, Jonghun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved 01-06-2016; Wolters Kluwer Health
• Subjects: Aged; Anesthetics, Local - administration & dosage; Arthroscopy - adverse effects; Brachial Plexus Block - adverse effects; Bupivacaine - administration & dosage; Clinical Case Report; Female; Humans; Postoperative Complications; Radiography, Thoracic; Respiratory Paralysis - diagnosis; Respiratory Paralysis - etiology; Rotator Cuff Injuries - surgery
• ISSN: 0025-7974; 1536-5964
• DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000003891

Interscalene brachial plexus block provides effective anesthesia and analgesia for shoulder surgery. One of the disadvantages of this technique is the risk of hemidiaphragmatic paresis, which can occur as a result of phrenic nerve block and can cause a decrease in the pulmonary function, limiting the use of the block in patients with reduced functional residual capacity or a preexisting pulmonary disease. However, it is generally transient and is resolved over the duration of the local anesthetic's action.We present a case of a patient who experienced prolonged hemidiaphragmatic paresis following a continuous interscalene brachial plexus block for the postoperative pain management of shoulder surgery, and suggest a mechanism that may have led to this adverse effect.Nerve injuries associated with peripheral nerve blocks may be caused by several mechanisms. Our findings suggest that perioperative nerve injuries can occur as a result of combined mechanical and chemical injuries.