Articles: nerve-block
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The risk of bleeding complications during regional anesthesia procedures is a significant patient safety consideration. Nevertheless, existing literature provides limited guidance on the stratification of bleeding risk for peripheral nerve and newly described interfascial plane blocks. Our objective was to produce an evidence-based consensus advisory that classifies bleeding risks in patients undergoing regional peripheral nerve and interfascial plane block procedures. ⋯ All common peripheral nerve and interfascial plane blocks were categorized into "low risk", "intermediate risk", and "high risk" based on the literature evidence, bleeding risk scores, and consensus opinion (in that order of priority). Clinical data is often limited, so readers of this consensus report should be reminded that these recommendations are mostly based on expert consensus. Hence, this advisory should not to be defined as a standard of care but rather serve as a resource for clinicians assessing the risk and benefits of regional anesthesia in management of their patients.