Rectus sheath nerve block for analgesia & incarcerated hernia reduction in the emergency department.

Background: Patients who present to the emergency department (ED) with incarcerated or strangulated ventral hernias are often in significant pain. Furthermore, even with procedural sedation, reduction itself also causes substantial pain. Hernias that cannot be reduced at the bedside with intravenous opioids or procedural sedation will require emergent surgery, which contributes to morbidity and mortality, especially in high-risk populations.

Utility of the occipital nerve block in the emergency department: A case series.

Introduction: Tension headaches, as well as various scalp pathologies including lacerations and abscesses are commonly treated in the emergency department (ED). The occipital nerve block (ONB), previously described in anesthesia and neurology literature, offers analgesia of the posterior scalp on the side ipsilateral to the injection while maintaining a low adverse effect profile.

Case Report: We report three cases in which ONB was utilized for tension headache, scalp laceration repair, and incision and drainage of scalp abscess.