Serial Peripheral Nerve Blocks to Aid in Salvage of a Compromised Limb: A Case Report

Abstract

The management of postsurgical thrombosis in a medically complicated patient is often not straightforward. We describe a case of a congenital heart disease patient with multiple risk factors for thrombosis with a compromised limb immediately after heart transplant who received serial daily peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs) resulting in limb salvage. The analgesic effects of the blocks allowed for clinical progression and participation in rehabilitation therapy, and the vasodilatory effects of the blocks helped prevent a below the knee amputation (BKA) in this devitalized and congested extremity.