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Variability in determination of point of needle insertion in peripheral nerve blocks: a comparison of experienced and inexperienced anaesthetists.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Grant, SA; Breslin, DS; MacLeod, DB; Demeyts, D; Martin, G; D'Ercole, F; Hardman, D
Published in: Anaesthesia
July 2003

Accurate identification of surface landmarks is essential for the successful performance of peripheral nerve blocks. The variability between experienced and inexperienced practitioners in identifying anatomical landmarks has not been studied previously. Anaesthetists were asked to identify the point of needle insertion for posterior lumbar plexus and sciatic nerve blocks on a volunteer using a standard textbook description. The chosen point for needle insertion was described in terms of X and Y co-ordinates, measured in millimetres, from a zero reference point marked on a volunteer's back. Fifteen experienced and 22 inexperienced anaesthetists took part in the study. The lumbar plexus block mean [range] values for the X, Y co-ordinates were 80 [62-108], 66 [46-86] and 92 [49-150], 62 [0-131] in the experienced and inexperienced groups, respectively. The sciatic nerve block X, Y co-ordinates were 77 [62-99], 70 [49-89] and 68 [29-116], 62 [26-93] in the experienced and inexperienced groups, respectively. The variance for the point of needle insertion was significantly greater in the inexperienced group (p <0.01) for both the lumbar plexus and sciatic nerve blocks. We conclude that with increasing experience, there is decreased variability in determining the point of needle insertion using anatomical landmarks.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Anaesthesia

DOI

ISSN

0003-2409

Publication Date

July 2003

Volume

58

Issue

7

Start / End Page

688 / 692

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Sciatic Nerve
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Nerve Block
  • Needles
  • Male
  • Lumbosacral Plexus
  • Humans
  • Education, Medical, Graduate
  • Clinical Competence
  • Anesthesiology
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Grant, S. A., Breslin, D. S., MacLeod, D. B., Demeyts, D., Martin, G., D’Ercole, F., & Hardman, D. (2003). Variability in determination of point of needle insertion in peripheral nerve blocks: a comparison of experienced and inexperienced anaesthetists. Anaesthesia, 58(7), 688–692. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2044.2003.03189_2.x
Grant, S. A., D. S. Breslin, D. B. MacLeod, D. Demeyts, G. Martin, F. D’Ercole, and D. Hardman. “Variability in determination of point of needle insertion in peripheral nerve blocks: a comparison of experienced and inexperienced anaesthetists.Anaesthesia 58, no. 7 (July 2003): 688–92. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2044.2003.03189_2.x.
Grant SA, Breslin DS, MacLeod DB, Demeyts D, Martin G, D’Ercole F, et al. Variability in determination of point of needle insertion in peripheral nerve blocks: a comparison of experienced and inexperienced anaesthetists. Anaesthesia. 2003 Jul;58(7):688–92.
Grant, S. A., et al. “Variability in determination of point of needle insertion in peripheral nerve blocks: a comparison of experienced and inexperienced anaesthetists.Anaesthesia, vol. 58, no. 7, July 2003, pp. 688–92. Pubmed, doi:10.1046/j.1365-2044.2003.03189_2.x.
Grant SA, Breslin DS, MacLeod DB, Demeyts D, Martin G, D’Ercole F, Hardman D. Variability in determination of point of needle insertion in peripheral nerve blocks: a comparison of experienced and inexperienced anaesthetists. Anaesthesia. 2003 Jul;58(7):688–692.
Journal cover image

Published In

Anaesthesia

DOI

ISSN

0003-2409

Publication Date

July 2003

Volume

58

Issue

7

Start / End Page

688 / 692

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Sciatic Nerve
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Nerve Block
  • Needles
  • Male
  • Lumbosacral Plexus
  • Humans
  • Education, Medical, Graduate
  • Clinical Competence
  • Anesthesiology