Bier's Block

Background

• Intravenous regional anaesthesia (IVRA) is a technique involving administration of a local anaesthetic into a region where venous return is mechanically impeded
• Intravenous Regional Anaesthesia (IVRA) is better than haematoma block in forearm fracture reduction [BestBets]
• It is important to have two clinicians present; one performing the Bier’s block and the other doing the procedure
• This block would be used typically for the manipulation of a forearm fracture
• Please ensure you have informed patient consent before starting

Indications and Contraindications

Indications include any procedure on the arm or leg that requires operating anaesthesia, muscle relaxation, or a bloodless field, such as reduction of fractures and dislocations, repair of major lacerations, removal of foreign bodies, debridement of burns, and drainage of infection. IVRA is commonly used for extremity surgery, such as carpal tunnel surgery or tendon repair. The procedure may be carried out on any patient of any age who is able to cooperate with the clinician.

Absolute contraindications:

• Allergy to the anaesthetic agent
• Uncontrolled hypertension

Relative contraindications:

• Raynaud's disease
• Buerger's disease
• Crushed or already hypoxic extremity in which further transient ischaemia would be detrimental
• Uncooperative patient
• Homozygous sickle cell disease is a theoretical contraindication
• Fasting not required

Procedure

• Explain procedure to the patient in advance
• General resuscitation equipment, including suction, anticonvulsant drugs, bag-valve-mask apparatus, and O₂, should be available
• Continuous cardiac and BP monitoring is not routine but may be used as an option depending on the clinician's assessment of the potential for cardiovascular events
• With manual pressure on brachial pulse and tourniquet in position but not inflated, elevate the arm for circa 3 min
• Inflate cuff
• Prilocaine is the local anaesthetic agent of preference because of its high margin of safety (it has a high therapeutic index). 40ml of 0.5% prilocaine is recommended, although larger volumes will be required for lower limb IVRA (60ml). The maximum dose is 400mg for a 70kg adult (approximately 6mg/ kg) which equates to 80ml of 0.5% solution.
• A pneumatic tourniquet with cotton padding (to prevent ecchymosis) under the cuff is applied proximal to the pathology
• The injection site should be at least 10 cm distal to the tourniquet to avoid injection of anaesthetic proximal to or under the tourniquet
• With the extremity still elevated, the tourniquet is inflated to 250 mm Hg (or 100 mmHg above SBP) the arm is placed by the patient's side. In a child, the tourniquet is inflated to 50 mm Hg above SBp. In elderly obese patients with calcified peripheral vessels, arterial occlusion may not be achieved safely. In the leg, a cuff pressure of 300 mm Hg or approximately twice the systolic pressure measured in the arms is suggested
• With the tourniquet now inflated, slowly inject the 0.5% Prilocaine solution into the infusion catheter at the calculated dose
• At this point, blotchy areas of erythema may appear on the skin. This is not an adverse reaction to the anaesthetic agent but merely the result of residual blood being displaced from the vascular compartment, and it heralds success of the procedure
• In 3 to 5 minutes, the patient will experience paraesthesia or warmth beginning in the fingertips and travelling proximally, with final anaesthesia occurring above the elbow, to the level of the tourniquet. Complete anaesthesia ensues in 10 to 20 minutes, followed by muscle relaxation
• Note that adequate analgesia may exist even if the patient can still sense touch and position and has some motor function
• Wait a full 15 minutes before infusing additional Prilocaine. Alternatively, if analgesia is slow or inadequate, an extra 10 to 20 mL of saline solution may be injected to supplement the total volume of solution to enhance the effect
• Do not exceed the Max. dose of 6mg/kg (80ml of 0.5% solution in a healthy 70kg patient)
• A single deflation can be performed if the cuff has been inflated for longer than 30 min.
• Sensation returns quickly when the tourniquet is removed, and in 5 to 10 minutes the extremity returns to its pre-anaesthetic level of sensation and function
• If the procedure takes longer than 20 or 30 minutes, many patients complain of pain from the tourniquet because it is not inflated over an anaesthetized area. Use of a double-cuff tourniquet may alleviate the problem of pain under the cuff. Most patients begin to feel significant discomfort after 30 minutes if only a single cuff is used. In the preferred double-cuff system, two separate tourniquets are placed side by side on the extremity. One is termed the proximal cuff and the other the distal cuff. The proximal cuff is inflated at the beginning of the procedure, and anaesthesia is obtained under the deflated distal cuff. When the patient begins to feel pain under the proximal cuff, the distal cuff is first inflated over an already anaesthetized area, and the pain-producing proximal cuff is then deflated. One must be certain to inflate the distal cuff before the proximal cuff is released
• After 45 to 60 minutes of observation, the patient may be discharged
• There are no standard or specific post-procedure instructions, but precautions similar to those given for conscious sedation are reasonable. Driving is best prohibited for 6 to 8 hours, and the patient should leave with a responsible adult

Summary

• Establish an intravenous (IV) line in the uninvolved extremity
• Draw up 40ml of 0.5% prilocaine (60mL for lower limb)
• Place a padded tourniquet and inflate the upper cuff
• Insert a small IV cannula near the pathological lesion and secure it
• Deflate the tourniquet
• Elevate and exsanguinate the extremity
• Inflate the tourniquet (250 mm Hg) and lower the extremity
• Inflate the proximal cuff only, if a double-cuff system is used
• Infuse the anaesthetic solution
• Remove the infusion needle and tape the site
• Perform the procedure
• If pain is produced by the tourniquet, inflate the distal cuff first, and then deflate the proximal cuff
• Do not deflate the cuff if total tourniquet time is less than 30 minutes
• Observe 45 to 60 minutes for possible reactions

Please use the Bier's Block Documentation Sheet

Links

• https://murraysurgical.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/PRO002_TourniquetTouch_3.0_EN_06.19.pdf
• https://resources.wfsahq.org/wp-content/uploads/uia-15-INTRAVENOUS-REGIONAL-ANAESTHESIA-BIER%E2%80%99S-BLOCK.pdf