1 – Indications for the ultrasound guided deep cervical plexus block

A deep cervical plexus block blocks both the deep and superficial branches of the cervical plexus. It is a paravertebral block of the spinal nerve roots C2-C4

The indications are:

– carotid endarterectomy

– excision of cervical lymph nodes

The deep cervical plexus block anaesthetises both the sensory and the motor nerve branches of the cervical plexus, while the superficial cervical plexus block anaesthetises the sensory branches solely

Because the sensory blockade is equivalent for superficial and deep cervical plexus blocks, and because the deep block is more risky, the superficial cervical plexus block is generally favoured compared to the deep cervical plexus block