Postoperative Analgesia Following Sciatic Nerve Blockade Administered by Nurse Anesthetists Supervised by Regional Anesthesia Faculty in an Academic Hospital

Introduction: Assessment of expertise in regional anesthesia techniques is traditionally based upon quota fulfillment of procedures during training. Validation of practitioner proficiency in performing procedures in surgical specialties has moved from simple measurement of technical skills to evaluation of global patient outcomes. Complete absence of pain as a result of nerve blockade is the most important clinical endpoint but patient, technical and procedural factors influence results. The purpose of this study was to measure the postoperative pain scores and associated analgesic medication requirements for patients administered sciatic nerve blockade by nurse anesthetists and determine patient or procedural factors that influenced this outcome. Methods: Either nerve stimulator or ultrasound guided sciatic nerve blockade was administered by nurse anesthetists under the supervision of regional anesthesia faculty. Patient demographic data that was collected included gender, body mass index, surgical procedure, and pre-existing chronic pain with associated opioid use. Patient self-reported pain scores and opioid analgesic dosages in the preoperative, intraoperative, immediate postoperative and 24 hour post procedure intervals were recorded. Results: 22 nurse anesthetists administered sciatic nerve blockade to 48 patients during a 36 month interval. Transition from a nerve stimulator to ultrasound guided sciatic nerve block technique resulted in lower mean pain scores. Patients reporting chronic opioid use were observed to have elevated perioperative opioid analgesic requirements and pain scores compared to opioid naïve patients. Conclusion: Effective analgesia is a prime measure for assessing expertise in regional anesthesia and continuous evaluation of this outcome in everyday practice is proposed.

Post-Operative Pain Scores and Level of Regional Anesthesia Expertise: Using Clinical Outcomes to Assess Procedural Proficiency

Background and Objectives: Peripheral nerve blockade requires regional anesthesia skills that trainees learn in several formats. Technical proficiency has shifted from a quota to comprehensive procedural evaluation. Successful nerve blockade is the clinical endpoint validating proficiency but patient, technical and procedural factors influence this result. The purpose of this study was to determine if procedural expertise for sciatic nerve blockade influenced postoperative pain scores and opioid requirements and if patient factors, technique and repetition influenced this outcome. Method: Sciatic nerve blockade by nerve stimulation and ultrasound guidance and training level of the resident performing the procedure were recorded. Patient obesity, trauma, chronic pain, opioid use and preoperative pain scores were compared to post-procedure pain scores and opioid analgesic requirements. Results: 102 patients received sciatic nerve blockade from 47 trainees over a 36 month interval. A significant relation between training level and improved pain scores was not demonstrated but transition from nerve stimulation to ultrasound guidance lowered scores in all groups. Nerve blockade failure was frequent with chronic opioid use and trauma. Conclusion: Analgesic outcomes should be an integral part of assessment of proficiency in regional anesthesia techniques. Evaluating outcomes of procedures throughout training will longitudinally assess technical expertise.

Regional Anesthesia in TraumaMedicine

Regional anesthesia is an established method to provide analgesia for patients in the operating room and during the postoperative phase. While regional anesthesia offers unique advantages, as shown by the recent military experience, it is not commonly utilized in the prehospital or emergency department setting. Most often, regional anesthesia techniques for traumatized patients are first utilized in the operating room for procedural anesthesia or for postoperative pain control. While infiltration or single nerve block procedures are often used by surgeons or emergency medicine physicians in the preoperative phase, more advanced techniques such as plexus block procedures or regional catheter placements are more commonly performed by anesthesiologists for surgery or postoperative pain control. These regional techniques offer advantages over intravenous anesthesia, not just in the perioperative phase but also in the acute phase of traumatized patients and during the initial transport of injured patients. Anesthesiologists have extensive experience with regional techniques and are able to introduce regional anesthesia into settings outside the operating room and in the early treatment phases of trauma patients.

Assessing Temperament as a Predictor of Distress at Anesthesia Induction Using the Children’s Behavior Questionnaire Short Form

Thesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2016-06