BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A nationwide survey was conducted in order to describe practice patterns surrounding the use of peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs). METHODS: Questionnaires were mailed to 805 anesthesiologists selected systematically from the 1995 ASA and ASRA membership directories. Responses from 409 attending anesthesiologists (response rate 56.5%) were analyzed. RESULTS: While almost all respondents (97.8%) regularly use at least some regional anesthesia techniques in their practices, significantly fewer use PNBs, with most anesthesiologists (59.7%) performing less than five PNBs monthly. Peripheral nerve blocks of the lower extremity (femoral 32 %, sciatic 22 %, popliteal 11%) were less frequently used than PNB of the upper extremity (axillary 88%, interscalene 61%) (McNemar chi-square test = 215.2; P < .001). Anesthesiologists who rated their training in PNBs as adequate (50.8%) devoted a larger percentage of their practice to PNBs than anesthesiologists who rated their training as inadequate (P = .02). Despite the infrequent use of PNBs, 176 respondents (42.6%) predicted that their use of PNBs would increase in the future. CONCLUSIONS: Although this survey indicates that regional anesthesia is frequently practiced in the United States, PNBs and particularly PNBs of the lower extremities remain underutilized.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A nationwide survey was conducted in order to describe practice patterns surrounding the use of peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs). METHODS: Questionnaires were mailed to 805 anesthesiologists selected systematically from the 1995 ASA and ASRA membership directories. Responses from 409 attending anesthesiologists (response rate 56.5%) were analyzed. RESULTS: While almost all respondents (97.8%) regularly use at least some regional anesthesia techniques in their practices, significantly fewer use PNBs, with most anesthesiologists (59.7%) performing less than five PNBs monthly. Peripheral nerve blocks of the lower extremity (femoral 32 %, sciatic 22 %, popliteal 11%) were less frequently used than PNB of the upper extremity (axillary 88%, interscalene 61%) (McNemar chi-square test = 215.2; P < .001). Anesthesiologists who rated their training in PNBs as adequate (50.8%) devoted a larger percentage of their practice to PNBs than anesthesiologists who rated their training as inadequate (P = .02). Despite the infrequent use of PNBs, 176 respondents (42.6%) predicted that their use of PNBs would increase in the future. CONCLUSIONS: Although this survey indicates that regional anesthesia is frequently practiced in the United States, PNBs and particularly PNBs of the lower extremities remain underutilized.
Authors: P Lirk; J M Colvin; M Biebl; G Mitterschiffthaler; P L Moser; I H Lorenz; C Kolbitsch Journal: Anaesthesist Date: 2005-04 Impact factor: 1.041
Authors: Patrick Tighe; Chester C Buckenmaier; Andre P Boezaart; Daniel B Carr; Laura L Clark; Andrew A Herring; Michael Kent; Sean Mackey; Edward R Mariano; Rosemary C Polomano; Gary M Reisfield Journal: Pain Med Date: 2015-06-10 Impact factor: 3.750