Ultrasound-Guided Regional Anesthesia -- August 2011

At the completion of this program, the participant should be able to:

1. Discuss the basic fundamental of ultrasound physics & instrumentation.
2. Explain the advantages of using ultrasound-guided nerve block techniques.
3. Demonstrate the operation of the U/S system controls and transducer selection
4. Identify & distinguish the topographic & cross-sectional brachial plexus anatomy.
5. Demonstrate imaging techniques for performing ultrasound-guided upper extremities regional anesthesia for interscalene, supraclavicular, infraclavicular, axillary, and forearm nerve blocks on live models.
6. Demonstrate imaging techniques for performing U/S-guided lower extremities anesthesia for femoral, popliteal and ankle nerve blocks on live models.
7. List the indications & applications for performing U/S-guided central venous catheter placement and apply skills using inanimate phantoms.
8. Increase the participants’ knowledge to better perform ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia procedures.
9. Distinguish the normal anatomy during the performance of ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia procedures.
10. Explain the use of sonography for ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia and describe “in-plane” and “out of plane” injection techniques.
11. Optional: Demonstrate imaging techniques for performing ultrasound-guided upper extremities regional anesthesia for interscalene, supraclavicular, infraclavicular, axillary, and forearm nerve blocks on cadaver models.
12. Optional: Demonstrate imaging techniques for performing ultrasound-guided lower extremities anesthesia for femoral, popliteal and ankle nerve blocks on cadaver models.

Course Topics:

• Imaging fundamentals
• Indications/Applications for U/S Guided Anesthesia
• Upper Extremity Nerve Blocks: Anatomy, U/S characteristics, Scanning and injection techniques
  • Interscalene: single injection and continuous interscalene catheter
  • Supraclavicular approach
  • Infraclavicular approach : Single injection and catheter techniques
  • Axillary plexus block
  • Musculocutaneous Block
  • Forearm: Median, radial & ulnar nerve blocks
• Lower Extremity Nerve Blocks: Anatomy, U/S characteristics, scanning and injection techniques
  • Femoral Nerve: single injection vs continuous nerve block
  • Sciatic Nerve: subgluteal and popliteal blocks
  • Ankle Blocks: tibial nerve, deep peroneal, sural, & saphenous
• Limitations, Challenges & top 5 Errors
• Ultrasound-Guided Central Venous Catheter Techniques:
  • Anatomy
  • Scan Techniques
• Live Demonstration
• Hands-On Session on live human models and inanimate phantoms