ABSTRACT
Effective postoperative pain management with peripheral nerve blocks and multimodal oral agents is dependent on successful nerve blocks and careful catheter placement. Equally important is competent and committed management of indwelling peripheral nerve catheters during hospitalization. Catheter failure due to dislodgement or occlusion is dispiriting to the patient and discouraging to the attending caregivers. Care in securing the catheter hub and diligently placing the catheter dressing at the time of placement decrease the number of unscheduled catheter evaluations at the bedside and may be the difference between success or failure. The catheter site must be inspected daily and the catheter dressing reinforced as needed.
