Block Evaluation
TAKE TIME TO LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP Beyond visualizing a successful block on ultrasound, I usually will want to see an immediate effect of my local by asking the patient to raise their arm toward the ceiling (deltoids, C5 for an ISB) or extend their knee (for a femoral block). There are reasons why.. read more →
Safety
ANOTHER ARROW IN THE QUIVER I was happy to receive a round of texts this morning from a good friend of mine about a case that he had just performed. My friend, Dr Chip Criswell, has become quite proficient at performing ultrasound-guided nerve blocks, and I could brag about him and about other cases.. read more →
Infrastructure
THE CART AND THE HORSE Improving your nerve block program will come in the form of learning or improving technical skills or from organization of your infrastructure. I commonly emphasize in my lectures about the habit that most people have of focusing primarily or exclusively on learning technical skills in order to build their.. read more →
The ‘Right’ Way
WELL, THAT’S NEW TO ME… I have come in contact at more than one practice lately with an application for a block that I would not have thought reasonable before now. It is the use of a popliteal sciatic nerve block (as a single injection) for posterior knee pain for total knee arthroplasty. I.. read more →
Get A Grip
One of the most common errors I see people commit as they begin using ultrasound is … REGISTER for FREE to become a SUBSCRIBER or LOGIN HERE to see the full article! read more →
Use a Bigger Needle
BIGGER NEEDLES Many people lean toward smaller needles for single injection nerve blocks. I will usually use 21 or 22 gauge needles for an ultrasound-guided block if it is a single injection block that is superficial. There are advantages to using a heavier 17 to 19 gauge needles in other circumstances though. … .. read more →