title: Peripheral nerve blocks and continuous catheter techniques.
abstract: Peripheral nerve blocks provide intense, site-specific analgesia and are associated with a lower incidence of side effects when compared with many other modalities of postoperative analgesia. Continuous catheter techniques further prolong these benefits. These advantages can facilitate a prompt recovery and discharge and achieve significant perioperative cost savings. This is of tremendous value in a modern health care system that stresses cost-effective use of resources and a continued shift toward shorter hospital stay as well as outpatient surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3094, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
authors.forename: Holly
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Steele
authors.forename: Karen C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Marcy S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Klein
mesh_terms: D001917:Brachial Plexus; D002404:Catheterization; D006801:Humans; D009407:Nerve Block; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D017933:Peripheral Nervous System