Procedure-specific peripheral nerve blocks

Abstract

Peripheral nerve blockade [PNB] is an anaesthetic technique, which renders specific body parts insensate to surgical stimuli while permitting the patient to remain conscious. Peripheral nerve blockade may be used as a sole anaesthetic technique or as an additional component of general anaesthesia. Significant benefits have been associated with the use of peripheral nerve block for both patients and the healthcare institutions. Nonetheless, for a variety of reasons, nerve block techniques are under-utilised in current anaesthetic practice. The Department of Anaesthesia at Cork University Hospital Ireland has, as part of an international consortium (including Bulgarian an Greek partners), been awarded EU funding under the Leonardo da Vinci Lifelong Learning Programme. to develop an integrated web-based platform providing real time, remote interactive training in perioperative care of patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery. As part of the project, we performed needs analyses of clinicians in this area, and we are going to apply the e-learning system to training in procedures such as Peripheral Nerve Blockade. The system will be pilot tested at Cork University Hospital and other UCC affiliated hospitals. The project is of two years duration ending in November 2010 (http://onlineortho. ath.cx/). This internet-based performance support system is aimed at providing just-in-time, just enough and at the point of need support to learners in remote areas in order to deal with complex authentic tasks in the context of problem-based learning.