Equipment

     •Single injection: insulated needle for nerve stimulation, 100mm.
     •Several kits for catheter insertion are currently commercially available. An ideal set
      should include an insulated needle with a short bevel, a cannula for catheter insertion,
      a catheter, an electrical wire connection and an antibacterial filter. The needle should
      be at least 90mm long. We typically use Contiplex D 110TM.
     •Two syringes with local anesthetics are prepared: 3 mL of lidocaine for local anesthesia
      of the skin and 20 mL ropivacaine 0.75%.

Para-sacral block is best performed preoperatively after light sedation.


Patient Position

The patient is positioned in a lateral decubitus po-
sition, similar to the position required for the clas-
sical, posterior approach to sciatic block with the
side to be blocked up. The dependant limb should
be straightened at the knee and hip, and the limb
to be blocked should be flexed at both hip and knee.