Plexus block (EN) Plexus block (EN)

How to prepare for your operation

• It is important that you follow the rules. If you fail to do so, life-threatening situations may occur during your operation.
• If you have failed to (fully) stick to the rules, the anaesthetist may decide to stop your operation from going ahead.

Pain relief
You will be given pain relief around one hour before your operation.

How will you be anaesthetised?

A plexus block is a local anaesthetic in which part of the body is anaesthetised. This is done via an injection. The body parts that may be anaesthetised include your arm, shoulder or foot. As a result, the anaesthetist may administer the injection in a range of places, such as your neck, your collarbone, your groin, the back of your knee or your lower back. Exactly where the injection will be administered depends on which body part needs to be anaesthetised.

Our staff will ask you to lay down in a certain position, so that the anaesthetist can easily access the site of your anaesthetic. Please follow their instructions. The anaesthetist will disinfect your skin, which will feel cold. Using an ultrasound device, the anaesthetist will carefully determine the site of the anaesthetic and will slowly insert the needle into your skin. This may hurt a little.
Using the screen, the anaesthetist will locate the exact site of the anaesthetic. Once the needle is in the right position, you may feel a slight electric shock. Next, the anaesthetic fluid will be injected. This may cause a feeling of pressure. The body part to be anaesthetised will start tingling and will feel warm and heavy.

Once the anaesthetic has fully taken effect, you will also no longer be able to properly move this body part. It may take half an hour for the anaesthetic to take effect. Once all preparations have been completed, you will be taken to the operating theatre, where a member of staff will connect the monitor. Next, the operating team will carry out their final checks. Once these are complete, your surgical procedure can start.

Intravenous drip in your arm

An intravenous drip will be inserted into your arm so we can administer fluid and medication

Prefer to sleep during your operation?

Simply ask us for sleep medication. That way, you will not notice your operation taking place. You also won't see anything of the procedure. This is because the site of your operation will be fully screened off.

If you are having an operation on your shoulder

In this case, a plexus block will often be administered via an injection into your neck. This mainly serves to stop any pain after your operation. You will also be put under a general anaesthetic.

For more information about this, please read our 'General anaesthetic' brochure.

What happens after your operation?

After your operation, you will be taken from the operating theatre to the post-anaesthesia care unit. This is also referred to as the recovery room.

Once there, our staff will connect you back up to the monitor, so that we can measure your heartbeat, blood pressure and the oxygen level in your blood. A tube may also be inserted into your nose to supply oxygen. You are in the recovery room to slowly wake up from your anaesthetic or to recover from your operation.

The care team will carry out certain checks, such as measuring your temperature using an ear thermometer. If no tube has been inserted into your bladder, the care team will use a scanner device every now and then to check whether your bladder is getting too full. This scanner will be gently pressed onto your lower abdomen, so we can see your bladder. If necessary, you will be given extra medication to counter any pain and nausea.
If you are doing well and your anaesthetist feel you are ready, the staff at the nursing ward will come and collect you.

When will your anaesthetic wear off?

• It will take six to eight hours for the effect of your anaesthetic to fully wear off. In some cases, this can take up to 12 or 24 hours.
• You will feel a tingling sensation in the arm or leg that was anaesthetised. First, you will regain control of your arm or leg; next, you will regain your feeling.
• After a plexus block of your arm, there is no need to stay at the hospital until the anaesthetic has worn off.
• Simply keep your arm in a sling for as long as it remains numb.
• Whether and when you are able to return home depends on the type of operation you had, and how the procedure went.

Pain relief after your operation

It is important that you experience as little pain as possible following your operation. You should start the pain medication we have prescribed as soon as your anaesthetic starts to wear off. This may include paracetamol, ibuprofen or diclofenac. The nurse will provide you with more information as soon as you are allowed to go home.

What are the possible side effects?

You may experience the following side effects:

• Once the anaesthetic has worn off, you may continue to feel a tingling sensation in your arm or hand for some time. This is due to irritation of the nerves (because of the injection) or due to the medication used. This tingling will usually go away by itself within a few weeks or months.
• Even though the anaesthetic fluid is injected around a nerve, it eventually ends up in your blood. Once this happens, your body will need to get rid of it. If there is a high concentration of anaesthetic in your blood, you may experience a metallic taste in your mouth, tingling around your mouth, drowsiness, or a ringing sound in your ears.
• Very occasionally, you may experience arrhythmia, or you may feel groggy and sleepy.

As we monitor your vital signs (such as your heartbeat) at all times during and after your operation, we can easily spot and treat any side effects.

Going home

Tips for your return home. If you are able to go home on the day of your operation.

• Make sure you are not home alone the first night after your operation.
• You are not allowed to drive yourself home. Please make sure you have arranged for someone to take you home.
• You are not allowed to use dangerous machinery that day.
• Do not take any important decisions.
• Take it easy for the first 24 hours after your operation.
• Make sure you have stocked up on plenty of pain relief at home (paracetamol, ibuprofen or diclofenac).
• Carefully follow the instructions of the doctor who carried out your operation.

It is normal to feel unfit for a while after your operation. This is not just down to the anaesthetic, but also down to the fact that every operation is a major life event. Your body simply needs time to recover.

Contact

If you have any questions, feel free to call.

Preoperative screening

+31 88 624 21 39 (lines open 08:30 to 17:00, Monday to Friday)