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REGIONAL ANESTHESIA

Nerve Stimulation for Regional Anesthesia of the Face: Use of the Blink Reflex to Confirm the Localization of the Trigeminal Nerve

Département d’Anesthésie-Réanimation, Polyclinique Jean-Villar, Bruges-Bordeaux, France

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Jean-Marc Bernard, MD, PhD, 3 Impasse de la Grillonnais, F-44115 Basse Goulaine, France. Address e-mail to jmbmdphd{at}club-internet.fr.

A blink reflex is a bilateral eyelid closure in response to nociceptive stimuli. We hypothesized that elicitation of a blink by a stimulating needle may enhance performing regional anesthesia of the face. Thirty outpatients undergoing cutaneous surgery of the face were studied. A 2.5-cm insulated beveled stimulating needle was inserted at the emergence of the infraorbital nerve. On elicitation of a bilateral blink with 0.5 mA of stimulating current, bupivacaine 0.5% 3–7 mL was injected. Operative conditions were excellent. Blink response can be used to localize superficial branches of the trigeminal nerve. Elicitation of a blink response during nerve stimulation results in successful trigeminal block.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				X. de Lacroix de Lavalette Blink Reflex for Trigeminal Nerve Block or Blind Local Anesthetic Infiltration Anesth. Analg., October 1, 2006; 103(4): 1052 - 1052. [Full Text] [PDF]

				J.-M. Bernard and Y. Pereon Blink Reflex for Trigeminal Nerve Block or Blind Local Anesthetic Infiltration Anesth. Analg., October 1, 2006; 103(4): 1052 - 1053. [Full Text] [PDF]