Minimising complications and improving the success of peripheral regional blockade.

Peripheral regional blockade is a type of regional anaesthesia involving depositing local anaesthetics around a specific nerve or bundle of nerves that help transmit nociceptive signals to higher centres, such as the thalamus and somatosensory cortex. It is not only a widely used technique that provides surgical anaesthesia, but also acts as an essential part of the armamentarium against postoperative pain and pain following major skeletal trauma. This article discusses the structure and function of peripheral nerves, the classification and pathophysiology of peripheral nerve injury and, finally, how practising anaesthetists are committed to maximising success and minimising harm when performing peripheral nerve blockade in the operating theatre.

Spinal anesthesia using Taylor's approach helps avoid general anesthesia in short stature asthmatic patient.

The case history of a 35-year-old female patient with short stature is presented. She was posted for rectopexy in view of rectal prolapse. She was a known case of bronchial asthma. She had crowding of intervertebral spaces, which made administration of spinal anesthesia via the normal route very difficult. Taylor's approach for administration of the same was tried and proved successful, thus saving the patient from receiving general anesthesia in the presence of bronchial asthma, for a perineal surgery. The possible cause for the difficulty in administration of spinal anesthesia and the Taylor's approach are discussed, and reports of similar cases reviewed.