Peripheral nerve block for pain control in lower leg compartment syndrome after relaxing incision and acute lower limb arterial occlusion

Abstract

We report the case of a patient with lower leg compartment syndrome after acute lower limb arterial occlusion who was treated with peripheral nerve block after relaxing incision. A 56-year-old man developed paleness in the left leg on the day before he was diagnosed with acute left common femoral arterial occlusion and underwent emergency thrombectomy. He developed left lower leg compartment syndrome after the surgery. Therefore, relaxing incision was performed twice. Fentanyl did not control pain; therefore, peripheral nerve block (left sciatic and saphenous nerve) was administered under ultrasound guidance. After the administration of peripheral nerve block, the pain was controlled, and the dose of fentanyl was decreased, and finally stopped. We should consider administering peripheral nerve block to stabilize the general condition in cases of pain uncontrolled with medication in an intensive care unit.