Method and corresponding kit for administering a paravertebral block
First Claim
1. A method for administering a paravertebral block (PVB) to a patient, the method comprising marking at least some of the patient'"'"'s cervical (C) and thoracic (T) spinous processes, determining the depth of the patient'"'"'s transverse process and external intercostal muscle at each C and T level to be blocked, administering local anesthetic at the T5 level, introducing a first needle sheathed within a first sheath having an open distal end through which a distal end of the first needle projects at the T5 level, 1.25-2.54 cm lateral from the patient'"'"'s T5 spinous process under the skin to a depth just above the patient'"'"'s external intercostal muscle, advancing the sheathed first needle cephalad, at a depth just above the external intercostal muscle of each vertebra, maintaining substantially constant lateral distance of 1.25-2.54 cm from the patient'"'"'s spinous process, halting advancement of the sheathed first needle when the highest level marked C spinous process is reached, withdrawing the first needle from the first sheath, advancing a first catheter into the first sheath, removing the first sheath while leaving the first catheter in place, connecting a proximal end of the first catheter to a source of local anesthetic, and commencing anesthesia, wherein the first catheter is a multi-orifice catheter and anesthesia is delivered locally to each of the at least some of the patient'"'"'s C and T spinous processes from the first catheter while the first catheter is left in place.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for administering certain nerve blocks includes a sheath constructed from a flexible ultrasound echogenic material, a more rigid introducer/dilator for introducing the sheath into the patient, and an ultrasound echogenic catheter for inserting through the sheath once the distal end of the sheath is in place adjacent the nerve(s) to be blocked and the introducer/dilator has been withdrawn. The catheter has provisions at its proximal end for connecting to a source of local anesthetic. Methods for use of this apparatus are also described.
40 Citations
15 Claims
- 1. A method for administering a paravertebral block (PVB) to a patient, the method comprising marking at least some of the patient'"'"'s cervical (C) and thoracic (T) spinous processes, determining the depth of the patient'"'"'s transverse process and external intercostal muscle at each C and T level to be blocked, administering local anesthetic at the T5 level, introducing a first needle sheathed within a first sheath having an open distal end through which a distal end of the first needle projects at the T5 level, 1.25-2.54 cm lateral from the patient'"'"'s T5 spinous process under the skin to a depth just above the patient'"'"'s external intercostal muscle, advancing the sheathed first needle cephalad, at a depth just above the external intercostal muscle of each vertebra, maintaining substantially constant lateral distance of 1.25-2.54 cm from the patient'"'"'s spinous process, halting advancement of the sheathed first needle when the highest level marked C spinous process is reached, withdrawing the first needle from the first sheath, advancing a first catheter into the first sheath, removing the first sheath while leaving the first catheter in place, connecting a proximal end of the first catheter to a source of local anesthetic, and commencing anesthesia, wherein the first catheter is a multi-orifice catheter and anesthesia is delivered locally to each of the at least some of the patient'"'"'s C and T spinous processes from the first catheter while the first catheter is left in place.
Specification