ABSTRACT
Despite the enthusiasm and skill of the anaesthetist there will always remain some absolute contraindications to regional blockade. These are listed in Table 15.2.
Premedication As with premedication before general anaesthesia, many drugs have been used. Oral sedation is preferred to injection by most, and benzodiazepines are currently the most frequently prescribed drugs. Personal choice remains the deciding factor. Regardless of which drug is chosen, many patients benefit from the judicious use of intravenous sedation before insertion of the regional block, which can, on occasions, be an uncomfortable procedure even in experienced hands.
