• T Edward Kim, Toni Ganaway, T Kyle Harrison, Steven K Howard, Cynthia Shum, Alex Kuo, and Edward R Mariano.
• Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, USA.
• Korean J Anesthesiol. 2017 Jun 1; 70 (3): 318-326.

BackgroundAnesthesiologists who have finished formal training and want to learn ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia (UGRA) commonly attend 1 day workshops. However, it is unclear whether participation actually changes clinical practice. We assessed change implementation after completion of a 1 day simulation-based UGRA workshop.MethodsPracticing anesthesiologists who participated in a 1 day UGRA course from January 2012 through May 2014 were surveyed. The course consisted of clinical observation of UGRA procedures, didactic lectures, ultrasound scanning, hands-on perineural catheter placement, and mannequin simulation. The primary outcome was the average number of UGRA blocks per month reported at follow-up versus baseline. Secondary outcomes included preference for ultrasound as the nerve localization technique, ratings of UGRA teaching methods, and obstacles to performing UGRA.ResultsSurvey data from 46 course participants (60% response rate) were included for analysis. Participants were (median [10th-90th percentile]) 50 (37-63) years old, had been in practice for 17 (5-30) years, and were surveyed 27 (10-34) months after their UGRA training. Participants reported performing 24 (4-90) blocks per month at follow-up compared to 10 (2-24) blocks at baseline (P < 0.001). Compared to baseline, more participants at follow-up preferred ultrasound for nerve localization. The major obstacle to implementing UGRA in clinical practice was time pressure.ConclusionsParticipation in a 1 day simulation-based UGRA course may increase UGRA procedural volume by practicing anesthesiologists.

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