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Defining an Ultrasound-guided Regional Anesthesia Curriculum for Emergency Medicine
Ryan V Tucker1,2, William J Peterson1,2, Jennifer T Mink3
1Department of Emergency Medicine Michigan Medicine Ann Arbor MI USA.
AEM Education and Training
|June 14, 2021
Summary
This study identified essential components for ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia (UGRA) training in emergency medicine (EM). The curriculum consensus includes background knowledge and ten key UGRA techniques for improved physician education.
Area of Science:
- Emergency Medicine
- Anesthesiology
- Medical Education
Background:
- Ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia (UGRA) offers benefits for pain management in emergency medicine (EM), avoiding procedural sedation and opioids.
- Despite advantages, EM trainees often lack focused UGRA education, with no existing EM-specific curriculum.
- This study aimed to define the core components of a UGRA curriculum tailored for EM physicians.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and establish consensus on the essential elements for a comprehensive ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia curriculum for emergency medicine physicians.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature review generated potential curriculum elements.
- An expert panel of 13 ultrasound faculty from diverse institutions and practice settings was convened.
- A modified Delphi process with two rounds of voting was employed to achieve consensus on curriculum components.
Main Results:
- Panelists evaluated 178 elements (110 background, 68 techniques).
- Consensus was reached on 65 background knowledge elements covering benefits, indications, risks, skills, and anesthetics.
- Ten specific UGRA techniques achieved consensus, including brachial plexus, nerve, and plane blocks.
Conclusions:
- The established curriculum reflects expert consensus for training practicing EM physicians in UGRA.
- This curriculum provides a framework for developing and implementing enhanced UGRA education for EM residents and independent providers.
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