Successful use of ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve block for lower limb surgery in a patient with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: a case report

The number of patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is increasing. These patients have a reduced cardiorespiratory reserve. Therefore, preoperative evaluation is essential to determine the best type of anaesthesia to use in patients with HFrEF. A 70-year-old man with HFrEF was scheduled to undergo debridement of skin necrosis due to thrombotic occlusion of the right common iliac artery. He had undergone wound dressing changes under local anaesthesia every other day for several months, and treatment for heart failure was on-going. A sciatic nerve and fascia iliaca compartment block was performed under ultrasound guidance because of the patient's cardiopulmonary function. After confirming adequate sensory blockage, surgery was performed without any haemodynamic instability or complications. Thereafter, debridement was performed twice more using the same block technique, and a skin autograft was also successfully performed. We successfully performed an ultrasound-guided sciatic nerve and fascia iliaca compartment block in a patient with HFrEF who was scheduled to undergo lower limb surgery. Peripheral nerve block is an alternative option for patients with HFrEF.

Automated summary

The number of patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is increasing, and proper preoperative evaluation is essential for determining the best type of anesthesia. In this case, a sciatic nerve and fascia iliaca compartment block was successfully performed in a patient with HFrEF undergoing lower limb surgery, demonstrating that peripheral nerve block can be a viable alternative option for these patients.