Efficacy of Anesthetic Blockage of Superficial Branches

Abstract

Regional anesthesia is of utility in facial and cervical territories, and is the basis that allows the performance of diverse surgical procedures and diagnostic tests. An important part of the cranial and cervical tegument is innerved by superficial branches of the cervical plexus, which can be blocked by infiltration of anesthetic in a unique point locatable in the lateral region of the neck. An anesthetic technique was executed for blockage of tegumentary branches of the cervical plexus in a test series conformed by 15 healthy adults. The anesthesia was verified by means of tactile, pain and temperature tests, in five points over the dermatomes of the cervical plexus. Complete anesthesia was verified in 14 of the 15 patients. In all cases the anesthesia lasted at least 90 minutes, and there were no accidents or major complications associated to the execution of the technique. The notable anesthetic effect and adequate working time, summed with the low risk of accidents and complications, make this technique a good alternative for sensitive blockage of part of thecranial and cervical regions. Regional blockage of superficial branches of the cervical plexus is an effective and safe procedure, and can be used in some procedures in the estomatological ambit.