title: Ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve blocks for ventricular shunt revision in children.
abstract: We describe using ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve blocks for postoperative pain control in 2 children undergoing ventricular shunt surgery. In the first patient undergoing ventriculo-peritoneal shunt revision, a combination of ultrasound-guided greater occipital nerve, superficial cervical plexus, and transversus abdominis plane blocks was used. In the second patient undergoing ventriculo-pleural shunt revision, a combination of ultrasound-guided greater occipital nerve, superficial cervical plexus, and intercostal blocks was used. Both patients, who underwent multiple revisions during their hospitalizations, showed decreased analgesic requirements after regional anesthesia. Our experience suggests this combined block technique may provide beneficial postoperative analgesia for patients undergoing shunt revision.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: T Anthony
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Anderson