Interscalene Block in an Anesthetized Adult with Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy Undergoing Clavicle Fracture Reduction

Whether regional anesthesia procedures should be performed in heavily sedated/anesthetized adults remains controversial. One of the purported advantages of performing regional nerve blocks in conversant patients is early warning against major nerve injury and, arguably, early detection of local anesthetic systemic toxicity. A 60-year-old man with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) underwent a clavicle fracture repair under general anesthesia. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography revealed dynamic left ventricular outflow track obstruction and systolic anterior motion of the posterior mitral valve leaflet. In part based on such echo findings, he received an ultrasound-guided interscalene plus a superficial cervical plexus block for postoperative analgesia prior to emergence from general anesthesia. Given the lack of robust data on the safety of ultrasound-guided regional techniques in heavily sedated/anesthetized adults, we use the example of echographic evidence of significant HOCM to argue for a pragmatic and individualized approach when faced with unusual situations in which the pros of such an approach may outweigh the cons – in this case for performing an interscalene block on an anesthetized adult.