ROTATION: Regional Anesthesia (REG)
TYPE: Required or Elective 
DURATION:One month
FACULTY:  Jerry Berger, MD, Kayser Enneking, MD, Linda Le, MD, Joanne Ramjohn, MD, Daniel Schaffer, MD

PREREQUISITES: Completion of clinical base year plus one year of clinical anesthesia 

CA-3 Rotation Information, click here

Acute Pain Service Guidelines and Policies

GENERAL GOALS:  To teach anesthesia residents the art and science of regional anesthesia.

PATIENT CARE SKILLS:

  • Recognize patients and surgical procedures suitable for regional anesthesia techniques
  • Rationally select regional anesthesia techniques and choice of local anesthetic for particular patient encounters. 
  • Assess adequacy of regional anesthesia before the start of surgery, and demonstrate appropriate plans for supplementation of inadequate blocks. 
  • Provide effective anxiolysis and sedation of patients by both pharmacologic and interpersonal techniques. 
  • Select appropriate monitors for specific patient encounters, and document performance of regional anesthetic adequately. 
  • Develop peripheral nerve block skills
    • Graduating residents will be required by the RRC to have administered a minimum of 50 peripheral nerve blocks by the COMPLETION of their residency. This does NOT include epidural and spinal anesthesia. 
    • Residents should be able to perform and manage intraoperatively upper extremity blocks including interscalene, subclavian perivascular, supraclavicular, infraclavicular, axillary and intravenous regional anesthesia. 
    • Residents should be able to perform and manage intraoperatively lower extremity blocks including sciatic, femoral, 3-in-1, psoas compartment block, lateral femoral cutaneous, popliteal and ankle blocks.
    • By examining the patient in the immediate postoperative period, residents will be able to assess the efficacy of their blocks in meeting desired postoperative pain goals (residents placing blocks are expected to assess and record the efficacy of blocks placed each afternoon prior to leaving for home).
  • Central Neural Blockade: Graduating residents will be required by the RRC to have completed 50 subarachnoid AND 50 epidural blocks by the COMPLETION of their residency.
    • Residents should be able to properly perform central neuraxial blocks including:
      • subarachnoid
      • epidural (lumbar and thoracic)
      • cervical epidural (theoretic knowledge only - may not perform unless appropriate patient presents for surgery)
      • continuous subarachnoid blocks. 
  • Appropriately care for patients with continuous and / or patient controlled regional analgesia postoperatively including:
    • Thoracic or lumbar epidural analgesia using local anesthetics, opiates or both
    • Continuous nerve or plexus catheters using local anesthetics
    • Nerve sheath catheters placed directly by the surgical team using local anesthetics
    • Safe supplementation of regional techniques with intravenous medications, especially when epidural opiates are used
    • Appropriate management of side-effects or complications of continuous / patient-controlled regional analgesia including:
      • Itching
      • Nausea / vomiting
      • Hypotension
      • Urinary retention
      • Numbness
      • Muscle weakness
  • Appropriately care for patients receiving intravenous Patient Controlled Analgesia with a basal infusion rate

MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE

  • Know general principles of local anesthetic pharmacology, including the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of various local anesthetics. This includes onset, duration, motor/sensory differentiation, and toxicity profile of various local anesthetics. 
  • Know the principles for use and indications for various local anesthetic adjuvants including: Epinephrine, phenylephrine, narcotics, sodium bicarbonate, carbonation, hyaluronidase, alpha-2  agonists, anticholinesterases.
  • Know the relevant anatomy for regional techniques, including: Spinal canal and its contents, neural plexuses of the limbs, major autonomic ganglia, major peripheral nerves.
  • Know the physiologic changes associated with spinal and epidural anesthesia. 
  • Know the indications for and the contraindications to regional anesthetic techniques including central neuraxis blocks, peripheral nerve blocks, sympathetic nerve blocks. 
  • Understand the anatomy, pathophysiology, and appropriate management of complications and side effects of regional anesthetic techniques, including: 
    • Local anesthetic complications - toxicity and its treatment
    • allergy - the use of test doses
    • total spinal, or subdural blocks - assessment and treatment
    • Spinal, epidural hematoma and abscess - assessment and treatment
    • Postdural puncture headache - assessment and treatment
    • Pneumothorax - assessment and treatment
    • Physiologic side effects: sympathectomy, phrenic nerve block, intercostal nerve block - assessment and treatment
    • Peripheral nerve injury - assessment and follow up
  • Know indications for, advantages, disadvantages, side effects and complications  associated with various types of postoperative pain control including:
    • Intravenous patient-controlled analgesia
    • Lumbar or thoracic epidural analgesia - continuous and /or patient controlled
    • Continuous nerve or plexus catheters
    • Nerve sheath catheters
    • Combinations of the above

INTERPERSONAL AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS, PROFESSIONALISM

  • Develop communication skills to assist in management of awake or sedated patients during surgery conducted under regional anesthesia (relates directly to skills associated with providing sedation for surgical procedures)
  • Ability to appropriately counsel and teach advantages of regional anesthesia to patients and their families

PRACTICE-BASED LEARNING

  • Become proficient at providing safe levels of anxiolysis and sedation for patients undergoing surgery using regional anesthesia
  • Gain proficiency at rapidly setting up for and performing regional blocks
  • By examining the patient in the immediate postoperative period, residents will be able to assess the efficacy of their blocks in meeting desired postoperative pain goals (residents placing blocks are expected to assess and record the efficacy of blocks placed each afternoon prior to leaving for home).

SYSTEMS-BASED PRACTICE

  • Learn how regional anesthesia and perioperative pain management can improve the overall surgical experience for patients - both inpatient and ambulatory.
  • Learn requirements for and how to run a hospital-based acute pain service

EVALUATION TO DETERMINE GOAL ACHIEVEMENT 

  • The resident should have developed a plan for pre, intra, and postoperative anesthesia care to be prepared to discuss the case with the attending anesthesiologist. Part of the evaluation will be based on these preoperative discussions. 
  • Attending evaluation of daily clinical performance in the operating room in the following areas: 
    • Preparation for the case and ability to carry out plan discussed the night before, including the rational choice of regional technique and local anesthetic. 
    • Recognition of problems and communication with the attending, including the use of supplementation and sedation, toxic reactions, tourniquet pain, and changes in volume status. 
    • Technical skill during the placement of the regional block. 
    • Each attending you work with will evaluate you weekly with the Departmental online evaluation form. This form is reviewed quarterly by the Clinical Competence Committee and continuously by the program director.  Your advisor will inform you of any problems identified. Any serious problem will be discussed with you immediately after it occurs. 
    • The Program Director will evaluate the results of the In-Training Examination for the American Board of Anesthesiologists (ABA) in general and for areas of departmental weakness. Consistent weakness may result in adjustment of the above goals. 

TEACHING RESOURCES TO ACCOMPLISH THE OBJECTIVES 

  • 11,000+ patients per year from the following surgical services (~20% children):
    • Orthopedic surgery including: Total Joint Arthroplasties, foot and ankle, musculoskeletal oncology, hand, sports, and pediatric orthopedic cases.
    • Gynecology - benign and oncologic patients
    • Plastic surgery including burn patients
    • Urologic surgery
    • Vascular surgery
    • General surgery - especially bariatric surgery patietns
  • Regional anesthesia workbook provided by the department. The technical skills sheet will be included in this workbook. 
  • Compendium of Regional anesthesia provided by ASTRA. 
  • Regional anesthesia block lectures. 
  • Reference List of pertinent articles. (see attached) 
  • Multi media resources available include Regional Anesthesia interactive CD rom available in the Resident Library. A film library is available to any resident interested in particular techniques.
  • Regional Anesthesia Core Education Materials Web Site (now includes Dr. Boezaart's Training Videos)
  • Faculty members: 
    • Jill Freedman, M.D. 
    • Lori Dangler, M.D.
    • Kayser Enneking, M.D.
    • Brian Ilfeld, M.D.
    • Jerry Berger, M.D.
    • David Mackey, MD (chief)
    • Sno White, MD 
 

SKILLS SHEET FOR RESIDENTS ON THE 

REGIONAL ANESTHESIA ROTATION

1. Demonstrate proficiency in the performance of the following regional anesthesia techniques: 

______ axillary block 
______ continuous brachial plexus blockade (catheter placement) 
______ interscalene block 
______ subclavian perivascular block 
______ sciatic nerve block 
______ femoral nerve block, or 3-in-1 block 
______ popliteal block 
______ ankle block 
______ epidural block 
______ spinal 
______ continuous spinal 
______ IV regional upper extremity 
______ IV regional lower extremity 
______ other 

2. Demonstrate understanding of the following concepts: 

______ General principles of pharmacology of local anesthetics. 
______ Anatomic rationale for the choice of regional anesthetic technique. 
______ Preemptive analgesia and the use of regional anesthesia/analgesia in the 

               postoperative period. 
______ Know the recommended doses of local anesthetics and the relative blood levels

              anticipated for each block. 
________ Understand the use of local anesthetic additives. 
________ Local anesthetic toxicity, its treatment and assessment. 
________ Complications of regional techniques; incidence, assessment and treatment. 

CA-3 Rotation Information

CA-3 residents completing the Regional Anesthesia Rotation

PATIENT CARE SKILLS:

  • Independently select patients for regional anesthesia, recognizing patients that will do better either with general anesthesia or with a combined regional / general technique
  • Independent rational selection of regional anesthesia technique and choice of local anesthetic for particular patient encounters. 
  • Properly and efficiently and independently perform blocks for operations on the extremities
    • Upper: axillary, interscalene, and infraclavicular brachial plexus blocks; less commonly, median nerve and ulnar nerve blocks
    • Lower: psoas compartment, femoral, obturator, lateral femoral cutaneous, popliteal, sciatic and ankle blocks 
    • Intravenous regional anesthesia
  • Properly and efficiently and independently perform continuous neuraxial blockade including
    • Lumbar, thoracic, and cervical (rarely) epidural anesthesia
    • Continuous or single-shot subarachnoid block
  • Ability to independently assess adequacy of regional anesthesia before the start of surgery, and demonstrate appropriate plans for supplementation of inadequate blocks. 
  • Independently provide effective anxiolysis and sedation of patients by both pharmacologic and interpersonal techniques. 
  • Independently select appropriate monitors for specific patient encounters, and document performance of regional anesthetic adequately. 

MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE: (See also General Competencies)

  • Depth of knowledge of topics listed above in the core rotation should support independent practice and be able to assist the resident to defend his / her choices in management techniques and choice of medications

PROFESSIONALISM, INTERPERSONAL AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS, PRACTICE-BASED LEARNING and SYSTEMS-BASED PRACTICE:  See core rotation descriptions and General Competencies

Dr. Berger is the faculty member responsible for this rotation. 

RETURN TO INDEX FOR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Revised 9/25/06