Anaesthesia
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Anaesthetists and intensivists spend a considerable proportion of their working time inserting needles and catheters into patients. In order to access deeper structures like central veins and nerves, they have traditionally relied on surface markings to guide the needle into the correct position. However, patients may present challenges due to anatomical abnormalities and size. ⋯ As a result of limited training in the use of ultrasound we believe that many clinicians fail to use it to its full potential. A lack of understanding, with regard to imaging the location of the needle tip remains a major obstacle. Needle visualisation and related topics form the basis for this review.