science

Intercostal nerve block

Intercostal nerve block is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Intercostal nerve block rather than just read about it. In short: Intercostal nerve block (abbreviated ICNB) is a nerve block which temporarily or permanently interrupts the flow of signals along an intercostal nerve, usually performed to relieve pain. Uses An ICNB relieves the pain associated with injured intercostal nerves.

Key takeaways

Intercostal nerve block belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Intercostal nerve block to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Intercostal nerve block from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Intercostal nerve block (abbreviated ICNB) is a nerve block which temporarily or permanently interrupts the flow of signals along an intercostal nerve, usually performed to relieve pain.

Uses An ICNB relieves the pain associated with injured intercostal nerves. This pain can arise from chest surgery, physical trauma, aggravation of the shingles virus, or pressure put upon the nerves during pregnancy.

Techniques

Anesthetic nerve block Injecting local pain relievers and steroids into the injured area alleviates intercostal nerve pain. In this type of nerve block, a needle inserted between two ribs releases a steroid into the area around the nerve. The exact location of injection depends on the underlying cause of the injury. After three to five days, the steroid begins to relieve pain. Depending on the individual, the pain-relieving effects of the steroid last for days to several months.

Risks Injection without a device such as an ultrasound or fluoroscope to guide the needle can cause pneumothorax, a condition where air enters the cavity surrounding the lung or into a blood vessel causing local anesthetic toxicity. Other newer facial plane blocks may be an alternative option due to a preferential safety profile

Neurolysis Physicians can also treat intercostal nerve pain by intentionally damaging the intercostal nerves. This process, known as neurolysis, prevents the nerves from sending pain signals. In chemical neurolysis, a needle injects alcohol or phenol into the nerve and prevents the conduction of pain signals. Neurolysis can also be accomplished through a process known as radio-frequency lesioning. In radio-frequency lesioning, a needle transmits radio waves to the nerve and interrupts regular pain signaling.

Additional images

References

Further reading Richard S. Weinered. (2001). Pain Management: A Practical Guide for Clinicians, Sixth Edition CRC Press. p. 461 ISBN 0849309263 Lennard, TA; Vivian, DG; Walkowski, SD; Singla, AK (2011). Pain procedures in clinical practice (3rd ed.). Philadelphia: Elsevier/Saunders. pp. 289–92. ISBN 978-1437737745. Erdine, P. Prithvi Raj, Serdar (13 August 2012). Pain-relieving procedures : the illustrated guide. Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell. pp. 14–27. ISBN 978-0470670385.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) Franco, KL; Putnam JB (1998). Advanced therapy in thoracic surgery. Hamilton, Ont.: B.C. Decker. pp. 4–8. ISBN 1550090445. Poon, Alan. "Intercostal nerve block". American Society of Regional and Pain Medicine. Archived from the original on 3 November 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014. Bridenbaugh, PO; Cousins, MJ (1998). Neural blockade in clinical anesthesia and management of pain (3rd ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott-Raven. pp. 457–63. ISBN 0397511590. Moore, Keith L. Moore, Anne M.R. Agur; in collaboration with and with content provided by Arthur F. Dalley II; with the expertise of medical illustrator Valerie Oxorn and the developmental assistance of Marion E. (2007). Essential clinical anatomy (3rd ed.). Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 48–65. ISBN 978-0781762748.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) Benzon, HT; Rathmell, JP; Wu, CL; Turk, DC; Argoff CE (2008). Raj's practical management of pain (4th ed.). Philadelphia: Mosby-Elsevier. pp. 749–52. ISBN 978-0323070799. Ho, AM; Karmakar, MK; Critchley, LA (Aug 2011). "Acute pain management of patients with multiple fractured ribs: a focus on regional techniques". Current Opinion in Critical Care. 17 (4): 323–7. doi:10.1097/mcc.0b013e328348bf6f. PMID 21716105. S2CID 5206646. Karmakar, MK; Ho, AM (Mar 2003). "Acute pain management of patients with multiple fractured ribs". The Journal of Trauma. 54 (3): 615–25. doi:10.1097/01.ta.0000053197.40145.62. PMID 12634549. Waldman, Steven D. (2009). Atlas of interventional pain management (3rd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Saunders/Elsevier. pp. 295–7. ISBN 978-1416099949. Moore DC, Bridenbaugh LD (1962). "Intercostal nerve block in 4333 patients: indications, technique, and complications". Anesth. Analg. 41: 1–11. doi:10.1213/00000539-196201000-00001. PMID 14475639. Tucker GT, Moore DC, Bridenbaugh PO, Bridenbaugh LD, Thompson GE (September 1972). "Systemic absorption of mepivacaine in commonly used regional block procedures". Anesthesiology. 37 (3): 277–87. doi:10.1097/00000542-197209000-00003. PMID 5051605. S2CID 38627773. Hidalgo, NRA; Ferrante FM (2007). Finucane, BT (ed.). Complications of regional anesthesia (2nd ed.). New York, N.Y.: Springer. pp. 111–4. ISBN 978-0387689043. Maddox TG (October 2002). "Adverse reactions to contrast material: recognition, prevention, and treatment". Am Fam Physician (Review). 66 (7): 1229–34. PMID 12387435.

External links An intercostal nerve block page on the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine website

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Intercostal nerve block

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Intercostal nerve block claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Intercostal nerve block before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Intercostal nerve block ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Intercostal nerve block

In research: Intercostal nerve block appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Intercostal nerve block in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Intercostal nerve block is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Anesthesia, Regional anesthesia, Surgical procedures and techniques, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Intercostal nerve block outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

Ask Teacher Smith questions about this articleOpens your AI tutor with a question about “Intercostal nerve block” →

Affiliate

Preply — study more efficiently by working with a personal tutor. 50% off.

How to study Intercostal nerve block in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Intercostal nerve block means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Intercostal nerve block out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Intercostal nerve block in simple terms?

Intercostal nerve block (abbreviated ICNB) is a nerve block which temporarily or permanently interrupts the flow of signals along an intercostal nerve, usually performed to relieve pain. Uses An ICNB relieves the pain associated with injured intercostal nerves.

Why does Intercostal nerve block matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Intercostal nerve block?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Intercostal nerve block.