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O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | A P R I L 2 0 1 4
Basics
of
Blocks
Everything you
need to place
ultrasound-guided
peripheral nerve
blocks.
Basics
of
Blocks
Dave Berkheimer, BSN, CRNA
Altoona, Pa.
CUTTING EDGE Ultrasound-guided blocks are considered state of the art.
R
egional
anesthe-
sia
equip-
ment
has undergone a sig-
nificant overhaul in
the last decade.
Transitioning from
the stimulation era to
the ultrasound era
has left many practi-
tioners behind. Many
are stubbornly hold-
ing onto the thought
that stimulation tech-
niques are just as
safe and adequate as
ultrasound-guided
technology. But that's
just simply not the
case.
In the hands of a
trained practitioner,
ultrasound technolo-
gy allows for direct
2-dimensional,
3-dimensional and
even 4-dimensional
visualization of the
anatomical structure
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