Anesthesia innovation: Nerve block catheter offers easier recovery

All Gain, No Pain 

For eight months, Barbara Hubbard had tried numerous therapies to relieve the searing pain in her left foot, but when tendonitis in her arch made it constantly painful to walk, she knew surgery was her only answer. Having endured a painful recovery from a previous surgery, the 61-year-old administrative nurse had concerns about the type of pain management she would be receiving.

Barbara’s podiatrist recommended an ultrasound-guided nerve block catheter, a type of regional anesthesia offered at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital (IFOH). Her anesthesiologist used ultrasound imaging to precisely inject local anesthetic around a nerve to control pain at the surgical site. A small pump provided a continuous infusion of numbing medication to provide pain control after surgery.

“A nerve block catheter minimizes the narcotics a patient requires during and after surgery, reduces postoperative nausea and vomiting, and maximizes a patient’s ability to participate in physical therapy,” says Sonia Szlyk, MD, Director of Regional Anesthesia for North American Partners in Anesthesia at IFOH. “Our focus is to provide pain control that allows patients to get back to their lives.”

The prospect of an easy recovery without the use of general anesthesia appealed to Barbara. “I felt comfortable going to Inova Fair Oaks Hospital because they were willing to do the least amount of anesthesia for the type of procedure I was having, along with pain control after the surgery,” she says.

During the procedure, Barbara received a light sedative, similar to what is used during a colonoscopy. She was sent home with a tiny wearable pump providing extended pain control for three days.

To Barbara’s relief, the numbing medication in her leg lasted as long as she needed and she didn’t have to take pain medication. “It was nothing less than phenomenal,” she says.

Nerve block catheter can help with different surgical procedures

Ultrasound-guided nerve blocks provide excellent pain control for a wide array of procedures, ranging from total joint replacement and orthopedic sports medicine surgery to general and cosmetic surgery.

“Nerve blocks help our patients return to their home and family the day of surgery, and also enable surgeons to perform more complex procedures on an outpatient basis,” says Dr. Szlyk.

The team at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital, which includes dedicated block nurses who have received advanced training in the care of nerve block patients, is committed to providing pain management tailored to each patient.

“We know that pain management is not one size fits all,” says Dr. Szlyk, noting that patients benefit from a collaborative effort among the doctors, nursing staff, physical therapists and support team. “The entire team is working together to ensure exceptional pain management for our patients,” she says.