Demonstration of the spread of injectate with deep cervical plexus block: a case series.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The authors conducted a scanographic study in order to characterize the local anesthetic spread of injectate resulting from a single-injection technique of deep cervical plexus block. METHODS: Six consecutive American Society of Anesthesiologists II and III patients scheduled for elective carotid endarterectomy under regional anesthesia were enrolled. Deep cervical plexus block was placed via an anterolateral approach using a nerve stimulator to guide the injection on contact with the levator scapulae nerve. With specific contractions evoked at a stimulating current intensity