title: Can bilateral bronchospasm be a sign of unilateral phrenic nerve palsy after supraclavicular brachial plexus block?
abstract: Ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve blocks facilitate ambulatory anesthesia for upper limb surgeries. Unilateral phrenic nerve blockade is a common complication after interscalene brachial plexus block, rather than the supraclavicular block. We report a case of severe respiratory distress and bilateral bronchospasm following ultrasound-guided supraclavicular brachial plexus block. Patient did not have clinical features of pneumothorax or drug allergy and was managed with oxygen therapy and salbutamol nebulization. Chest X-ray revealed elevated right hemidiaphragm confirming unilateral phrenic nerve paresis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Souvik
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chaudhuri
authors.forename: Md
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gopalkrishna
authors.forename: Cherish
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: Ratul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kundu