Peripheral nerve blocks for through-knee amputation in a patient on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Abstract

A woman in her 40s with an ischaemic right lower limb, who was on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) following cardiopulmonary failure secondary to bilateral alveolar haemorrhage, was scheduled for through-knee amputation. She was under mechanical ventilation and continuous intravenous medications. Considering her significant comorbidities, peripheral nerve blocks were chosen for anaesthesia. Ultrasound-guided traditional nerve blockade techniques of the femoral and sciatic nerves were not possible because of the presence of an ECMO cannula, altered anatomy following previous surgery on the same side and inability to turn the patient to a lateral position. An ultrasound-guided trans fascia iliaca for femoral and anterior approach for sciatic were rather used to accomplish the nerve blockades. Surgery completed without any complications and with reduced postoperative outcomes such as opioid consumption, other morbidities and mortality. This report is unique as the literature on peripheral nerve block approaches for lower limb amputations in ECMO patients is sparse.