Pleural effusion and atelectasis during continuous interscalene brachial plexus block -A case report-

Korean J Anesthesiol. 2010 Jan;58(1):95-8. doi: 10.4097/kjae.2010.58.1.95. Epub 2010 Jan 31.

Abstract

An interscalene brachial plexus block is an effective means of providing anesthesia-analgesia for shoulder surgery. However, it has a multitude of potential side effects such as phrenic nerve block. We report a case of a patient who developed atelectasis of the lung, and pleural effusion manifested as chest discomfort during a continuous interscalene brachial plexus block for postoperative analgesia.

Keywords: Atelectasis; Continuous interscalene brachial plexus block; Phrenic nerve; Pleural effusion.