Regional Anesthesia: An Overview

Advances in anesthesia techniques and guidance imaging have made regional anesthetics effective both for pain management and as a primary anesthesia modality for patients undergoing operative and other invasive procedures. Patients can receive regional anesthesia in most areas of the body, including the upper and lower extremities and torso. It is critical that perioperative nurses are familiar with regional anesthetic options and understand them well enough to support their patients in the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases of surgical care. They also should be familiar with the signs and symptoms of local anesthetic systemic toxicity and be prepared to help treat this condition as soon as indicated. Nurses play a pivotal role in ensuring patients are properly educated about regional anesthetics and remain safe throughout all phases of perioperative care.