Practice Variation in Regional Anesthesia Utilization by Current and Former U.S. Military Anesthesiology Residents

Per Joint Trauma System guidelines, military anesthesiologists are expected to be ready to lead an Acute Pain Service with regional anesthesia in combat casualty care. However, regional anesthesia practice volume has not been assessed in the military. The objective of this study was to assess regional anesthesia utilization among current residents and graduates of U.S. military anesthesiology residency programs.

All current and former active duty military anesthesiology program residents, trained at any of the four military anesthesiology residency programs between 2013 and 2019, were anonymously surveyed about their regional anesthesia practice. Bivariate statistics described the total single-injection and catheter block techniques utilized in the last month. Cluster analysis assessed for the presence of distinct practice groups within the sample. Follow-up analyses explored potential associations between cluster membership and other variables (e.g., residency training site, residency graduation year, overall confidence in performing regional anesthesia, etc.). This protocol received exemption determination separately from each site's institutional review board.

Current and former residents reported broad variation in regional anesthesia practice and clustered into four distinct practice groups. Less than half of respondents utilized a moderate to high number of different single-injection and catheter blocks.

These findings highlight the need for creative solutions to increase regional anesthesia training in military anesthesiology programs and continued ability to implement skills, such that all military anesthesiologists have adequate practice for deployed responsibilities.