ABSTRACT
A cross-sectional survey study on French practice in ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia was carried out. A questionnaire (demographic data, assessment of the likely benefits of ultrasonography, and its use in daily practice: blocks and hygiene) was emailed to all members of the French-speaking association of anesthesiologists involved in regional anesthesia. The questionnaire was filled out and returned by 634 experienced anesthesiologists. An ultrasound machine was available in 94% of cases. Ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia has become the gold standard technique for three-quarters of responders. Axillary, interscalene, popliteal sciatic and femoral nerve blocks were performed by more than 90% of responders, most frequently under ultrasound supervision. Conversely, ultrasound guidance was rarely used for spinal or deep nerve blocks. A specific sterile sheath was used in only 43% of cases. The present study confirms that ultrasound guidance has gained in popularity for many superficial, but not deep, regional anesthesia procedures in France.
Subject(s)
Anesthesia, Conduction/methods , Anesthesiology/methods , Ultrasonography, Interventional/methods , Anesthesia, Conduction/statistics & numerical data , Anesthesiology/statistics & numerical data , Cross-Sectional Studies , France , Health Care Surveys , Humans , Nerve Block/methods , Nerve Block/statistics & numerical data , Ultrasonography, Interventional/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
Pediatric ambulatory surgery presents a specific set of challenges to the anesthesiologist. Similarly to adult ambulatory surgery, we report four ambulatory surgical procedures in two young children with congenital hand disorders. For each surgical procedure pain was controlled with continuous in situ infusion of ropivacaine.
