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Original Research
A review of the anatomy and a step-by-step visual guide to performing an ultrasound-guided supraclavicular brachial plexus block
Southern African Journal of Anaesthesia and Analgesia | Vol 25, No 2 | a858 |
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36303/SAJAA.2019.25.2.2268
| © 2019 S. Govender, D. Möhr, Z.N. Tshabalala, A. van Schoor
| This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 06 November 2025 | Published: 30 March 2019
Submitted: 06 November 2025 | Published: 30 March 2019
About the author(s)
S. Govender, Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, South Africa; and, Department of Anatomy, Section of Clinical Anatomy, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South AfricaD. Möhr, Department of Anatomy, Section of Clinical Anatomy, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa; and, Private Practice, Anaesthesiologist, South Africa
Z.N. Tshabalala, Department of Anatomy, Section of Clinical Anatomy, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa
A. van Schoor, Department of Anatomy, Section of Clinical Anatomy, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Full Text:
PDF (897KB)Abstract
Background: The aim of this description is to provide step-by-step guidelines for performing an ultrasound-guided supraclavicular brachial plexus nerve block.
Methods: The brachial plexus in the supraclavicular fossa of sixty healthy volunteers was scanned in the horizontal/transverse plane. The relevant regional anatomy was studied to identify the muscular and vascular structures seen on the ultrasound screen.
Results: The entire process was documented and a standard, step-by-step guide to performing ultrasound-guided supraclavicular brachial plexus blocks was developed.
Conclusion: This description serves as a comprehensive guide to a technique for performing ultrasound-guided supraclavicular brachial plexus blocks safely and successfully. It also aims to provide the reader with the background knowledge of the technique and the surrounding regional anatomy.
Methods: The brachial plexus in the supraclavicular fossa of sixty healthy volunteers was scanned in the horizontal/transverse plane. The relevant regional anatomy was studied to identify the muscular and vascular structures seen on the ultrasound screen.
Results: The entire process was documented and a standard, step-by-step guide to performing ultrasound-guided supraclavicular brachial plexus blocks was developed.
Conclusion: This description serves as a comprehensive guide to a technique for performing ultrasound-guided supraclavicular brachial plexus blocks safely and successfully. It also aims to provide the reader with the background knowledge of the technique and the surrounding regional anatomy.
Keywords
brachial plexus; nerve blocks; supraclavicular; ultrasound-guided; regional anatomy
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