Comprehensive Regional Anesthesia Workshops With Anatomic Ballistic Gel Phantom Task Trainers: A Cost-Effective...

Acquiring regional anesthesiology skills presents a unique challenge for novice residents as ultrasound hand-eye coordination is learned through manual dexterity practice while simultaneously interpreting critical sonoanatomy. We developed low-cost ballistic gel phantom models as task trainers for interscalene and adductor canal nerve blocks to train novice anesthesia residents.

We conducted a single group preimplementation/postimplementation cohort study with first-year clinical anesthesiology (postgraduate year 2) residents at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester. Residents attended a workshop that included lectures, ultrasound scanning, and gel phantom needling practice using 2 anatomic ballistic gel trainers. The initial costs for the interscalene and adductor canal trainers were $69.12 and $147.99, respectively, with each subsequent trainer costing $15.60 and $11.46. Surveys assessed knowledge and confidence before, immediately after, and at 1 and 4 months postworkshop and were analyzed using paired Wilcoxon signed rank tests.

Eighteen residents participated, showing significant improvements in confidence (p < .001) and knowledge immediately following the workshop (p < .003). Average knowledge scores were sustained at 1 month (9 points [6,11]; p = .018) and at 4 months (8 points [7,10]; p < .025) despite minimal clinical exposure. Confidence remained significantly higher than preworkshop at 1 month (p = .005 interscalene block; p = .008 adductor canal block) though not sustained at 4 months (p = .053 interscalene block, p = .265 adductor canal block).

Comprehensive workshops incorporating anatomic ballistic gel trainers significantly enhance residents' confidence and knowledge in performing nerve blocks. This cost-effective approach supplements traditional training methods, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical skills.