Respiratory arrest following CT guided selective cervical nerve root injection

CT guided cervical nerve root injection is performed for diagnostic purposes or to reduce inflammation and pain in cervical radiculopathy. Steroid and local anaesthetic are injected under CT guidance around the nerve root. This is performed as an outpatient procedure with most patients being able to be discharged 15-30 mins after the procedure. CT guidance allows the operator to see the best pathway for the needle whilst visualising structures such as the carotid and vertebral artery.

It is generally a safe procedure, with one recent study by RS Pobiel et al showing out of 802 fluoroscopy guided cervical nerve root blockades there were no major complications.