Cadaveric dissection studies in regional anesthesia - A comprehensive bibliographic analysis

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Anatomy
• Bibliometrics

Background:

• Cadaveric studies are fundamental for understanding the anatomical basis and safety of regional anesthesia techniques.
• The historical development and publication trends in this specialized field require comprehensive documentation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a bibliometric analysis of cadaveric studies in regional anesthesia.
• To map publication trends, identify collaborative networks, and uncover emerging themes within this research area.

Main Methods:

• A systematic search of the Scopus database was performed using keywords 'cadaveric studies' and 'regional anesthesia'.
• Bibliometric parameters including bibliographic coupling, citation, co-authorship, co-occurrence, and co-citation were analyzed using VOSviewer and CiteSpace software for 298 articles.
• Data spanned from the inception of the field until May 2025.

Main Results:

• The majority of research originated from high-income countries, notably the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada.
• Leading academic institutions, such as the University of Toronto, and high-impact journals, like Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, were prominent.
• Analysis revealed key publication patterns and research collaborations.

Conclusions:

• Future research should focus on multicenter, cross-cultural cadaveric validations to ensure broader applicability.
• Standardization of anatomical nomenclature is essential for consistent reporting and understanding.
• Enhanced collaboration between anatomists and anesthesiologists is critical for translating cadaveric findings into improved clinical practice and patient safety.