Table 56-14
- Hastened block performance
- Fewer needle passes, resulting in less patient discomfort and potentially a decreased risk of vascular puncture and hematoma formation in the anticoagulated patient
- Faster initial onset of the block
- Decreased dose of local anesthetic
- Preprocedural scanning can reveal anticipated as well as unanticipated structures such as hemodialysis catheters, ventriculoperitoneal shunts, and vascular and neurologic anomalies