Anaesthesiology intensive therapy
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Anaesthesiol Intensive Ther · Oct 2013
The substantial impact of ultrasound-guided regional anaesthesia on the clinical practice of peripheral nerve blocks.
Ultrasound-guided (US-guided) regional anaesthesia has gained worldwide popularity in recent years owing to the benefits the method offers to patients. The 1st Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care of Warsaw Medical University was one of the first centres in Poland to employ US-guided peripheral nerve blocks (PNB) on a routine basis. The technique was incorporated into the institution's clinical practice from 2007. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively assess changes in the clinical practice of US-guided versus non US-guided PNBs over six years of experience with the technique. ⋯ The use of ultrasound optimizes the technique of peripheral blocks and the amount of local anaesthetic used. Ultrasonography does not affect the safety of peripheral blocks.