Ultrasound Provides a Reliable Test of Local Anesthetic Spread. Issue 4 (1st June 2010)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McCartney, Colin J. L.; Dickinson, Victoria; Dubrowski, Adam; Riazi, Sheila; McHardy, Paul; Awad, Imad T.
• Is Part Of: Regional anesthesia and pain medicine. Volume 35:Issue 4(2010)
• Page Start: 361-363
• Page End: 361-363
• Publication Date: 2010-06-01
• Subjects: Conduction anesthesia -- Periodicals; Pain medicine -- Periodicals; 617.964
• DOI: 10.1097/AAP.0b013e3181e82e79
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1098-7339

Abstract

Abstract : Background and Objectives: We predicted that practitioners could identify injectate spread in a model of ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve block. Methods: Both novices and experts in ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve block were asked to recognize the spread of local anesthetic in a gelatin ultrasound phantom. In a blinded and randomized fashion, these participants were observed to either successfully or unsuccessfully state whether an injection had been made. Results: Twelve novices and 8 experts each completed the trials. Accuracy, Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for all trials. Users attained a very high accuracy and sensitivity (>85%) as well as specificity (>90%) with ultrasound in this model. Conclusions: This study shows that ultrasound is a reliable method of detecting injectate spread in a gelatin phantom model.