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potential efficiency boosters?
1. Ultrasound-guided blocks
One sure way to improve throughput in an ambulatory setting is to couple
regional anesthesia with a reduced reliance on opioids for pain management.
And one of the best ways to improve regional block placement is to use ultra-
sound-guided catheters.
A visual technology that was once expensive and grainy has become both much
more affordable and much more efficacious. While prices have been dropping,
imaging has improved to the point where trained providers can clearly see the tip
of the needle and the thread of the catheter within the targeted space near the
nerve, instead of having to rely solely on the unpredictable feel of anatomical
landmarks.
William Landess, CRNA, MS, JD, corporate director of anesthesia at Palmetto
Health in Columbia, S.C., sums it up best: "For more safe and rapid placement
of regional anesthesia, ultrasound has become essential."
"And there's now plenty of evidence that ultrasound improves the efficiency
of regional blocks," adds Brandon Winchester, MD, regional anesthesia fellow-
ship director at Andrews Institute for Orthopedics & Sports Medicine in Gulf
Breeze, Fla. "This is not a new concept."
The concept isn't new, but newer machines are easier to use. Add in features
like touchscreen interfaces, smaller footprints and greater mobility, and the
prospect of being able to repeatedly save valuable minutes while performing
blocks is likely to make the technology a sound investment.
2. Video laryngoscopes
The debate continues. Should video laryngoscopes be considered an emerging
standard of care for all intubations or should they be reserved for anticipated
difficult or emergency intubations only, so providers don't lose the ability to per-
form direct laryngoscopy with more rudimentary tools?
There's no debate, however, that video capability has the potential to improve
