Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2021 Dec 1.
Published in final edited form as: J Perianesth Nurs. 2020 Jul 11;35(6):564–573. doi: 10.1016/j.jopan.2020.03.002

Table 1.

Surgical Site and Appropriate Regional Anesthesia Technique

Surgical Site Type of Regional Technique (Block)
Head Occipital
Sphenopalpatine (topical, for migraine)
Retrobulbar and peribulbar
Neck Deep cervical plexus
Superficial cervical plexus
Truncal Chest Intercostal
Interpleural
Paravertebral
Quadratus lumorum (QL)
Erector spinae
Pec1 and Pec2
Abdomen Spinal
Epidural
Caudal
Transversus abdominis plane (TAP)
Quadratus lumborum (QL)
Erector spinae
Upper Extremity Shoulder Interscalene
Above the elbow Supraclavicular
Infraclavicular
Below the elbow Supraclavicular
Infraclavicular
Axillary
Elbow- Selective blocks of ulnar, median, and radial
Wrist- Selective blocks of ulnar, median, and radial
Finger- Digital
Lower Extremity Above the knee Femoral
3-in-1 Block (Femoral, obturator, lateral femoral cutaneous)
Fascia Iliaca
Below the knee Saphenous- (begins just above knee) – also referred to as Adductor canal or Subsartorial blocks
Sciatic – gluteal/posterior, anterior, popliteal, lateral approaches
Ankle - (targets 5 nerves: saphenous, deep peroneal, superficial peroneal/fibular, sural, posterior tibial)
Mid foot
Toes-Digital