This will be my third dedicated month of regional anesthesiology in residency, and coupled with all the peripheral nerve blocks I’ve performed on call, it’s amazing how far I’ve come in three short years.
I remember in my first month of residency, I knew virtually nothing about the anatomical considerations, major risks, contraindications, or technical skills required to perform a successful block. Now these procedures have become extremely gratifying as I’m able to relieve pain within a few minutes, provide surgical anesthesia for my patients (sparing them a general anesthetic), and provide rescue analgesia post-operatively. 🙂
Peripheral nerve blocks? I prefer ultrasound, but if the structure is deep (high sciatic), I’ll also combine it with nerve stimulation. 🙂
Which way do you like them? Neurostimulation or echo?