An initial evaluation of the effect of a novel regional block needle with tip‐tracking technology on the novice performance of cadaveric ultrasound‐guided sciatic nerve block

• Published in: Anaesthesia Vol. 75; no. 1; pp. 80 - 88
• Main Authors: McLeod, G. A., McKendrick, M., Taylor, A., Sadler, A., Halcrow, J., Mustafa, A., Seeley, J., Raju, P., McKendrick, G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.01.2020
• Subjects: Anesthesia, Conduction - instrumentation; Anesthesia, Conduction - methods; Cadaver; Cadavers; Error correction; Error reduction; eye‐tracking; Humans; Hypodermic needles; metrics; needle; Needles; Nerve Block - instrumentation; Nerve Block - methods; performance evaluation; regional anaesthesia; Scanning; Sciatic Nerve; simulation; Thigh; Tracking; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasonography, Interventional - methods; Ultrasound; performance evaluation; eye-tracking; metrics; needle; regional anaesthesia; simulation

Summary Visibility of the needle tip is difficult to maintain during ultrasound‐guided nerve block. A new needle has been developed that incorporates a piezo element 2–2.3 mm from the tip, activated by ultrasound. The electrical signal manifests as a coloured circle surrounding the needle tip, and a...