Ochiai et al., "Direct nerve crossing with the
intercostal nerve to treat avulsion injuries of the brachial plexus," Journal of Hand Surgery, vol.
Illustration of the 4th
intercostal nerve to the breast
Intrapleural
intercostal nerve block associated with mini-thoracotomy improves pain control after major lung resection.
Currently, surgeons use epidurals,
intercostal nerve blocks and prescription narcotics for pain management.
United States-based Pacira Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:PCRX) has reported negative results from the second Phase III trial of exparel (bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension) in
intercostal nerve block for posterolateral thoracotomy, it was reported yesterday.
Flank bulge has never been reported following PCNL; however, flank bulge is a known potential complication of flank incisions for various retroperitoneal surgical procedures and has been reported in the urological,[sup.12] vascular[sup.13] and neurosurgical literature.[sup.14,15] Flank bulge due to laxity of the anterolateral abdominal musculature may be caused by damage to
intercostal nerves.[sup.14] In a cadaveric and electrophysiological study, Fahim and colleagues showed that the most significant
intercostal nerve contributions to the anterolateral wall came from the T11 and T12 nerves.[sup.14] They concluded that postoperative flank bulge was likely due to denervation of the abdominal musculature from injury to the T11 and T12
intercostal nerves.
Posterior
intercostal nerve block for pain relief after cholecystectomy.
Koshima et al described a single-stage facial reanimation procedure that involved a rectus abdominis free muscle transfer along with a long
intercostal nerve that could reach the contralateral facial nerve branches.
Regional anaesthesia is usually divided into either central (epidural, spinal and caudal anaesthesia), or peripheral nerve blocks (lumbar plexus, brachial,
intercostal nerve).
Incidence of pneumothorax from
intercostal nerve block for analgesia in rib fractures.
Various regional anaesthetic techniques have been described in the literature including brachial plexus blocks, [2,3]
intercostal nerve blocks, [4] field blocks, [3] local infiltration [5] and thoracic epidural anaesthesia.
Based on the development of microsurgical techniques with knowledge for microanatomy of peripheral nerve, various donors have been found, such as intra- or extra-plexus nerve donor, including accessory nerve transfer,
intercostal nerve transfer, and phrenic nerve transfer.