Abstract
This 190-page, hardback book details the practice of the authors at the Ohio State Medical Centre, USA. The text is aimed at residents, fellows and staff physicians and provides detailed, step-by-step descriptions of commonly performed ultrasound-guided regional anaesthetic techniques. As would be expected from a modern ultrasound textbook, the reader is provided with links to digital images and video clips, in this case via a link to a free access website (
The book is divided into four major sections: introduction, upper extremity peripheral nerve blocks, lower extremity peripheral nerve blocks and peripheral perineural catheters. Each chapter ends with useful, up-to-date references for further reading.
The introductory section begins with a chapter on pharmacology, discussing the commonly used (American) local anaesthetics and potential additives for peripheral nerve blocks. Management of local anaesthetic toxicity is also considered, and includes a discussion on the use of lipid emulsion. The ‘Introduction to ultrasound’ chapter is well written and informative and is pitched at a similar level to lectures delivered on advanced ultrasound courses in the UK. In this section the authors provide good, practical advice on issues such as transducer cleaning and sterility, scanning techniques and physician and patient positioning.
Sections two and three are concerned with the placement of single shot peripheral nerve blocks for the upper and lower extremities. The approach to the description of the blocks is well structured and the anatomy of each area is concisely described. The text is easy to read and key points are nicely highlighted in ‘Additional consideration’ boxes. Ultrasound images are of good resolution but unfortunately the annotation on these images is too small to be easily read. This problem can be remedied by accessing the images on the free access website where, together with video clips, images can be viewed full screen. There is some duplication of both text and anatomical illustrations between chapters, making reading the book from cover to cover somewhat repetitious. This approach does, however, allow each chapter to be read in a ‘standalone’ fashion without the reader having to constantly refer to different sections of the book. The layout of the ultrasound images, interspersed with photographs of recommended patient and transducer positions, complements nicely the text's descriptions.
The section on perineural catheter insertion is described by the authors as ‘a unique feature of this text’ and begins with a comprehensive discussion on aspects of catheter insertion and management. In addition to a clear description of the insertion of catheters at various sites, it provides valuable, practical advice for anyone considering setting up a perineural catheter service and includes tips on equipment, catheter fixation and dosing regimens.
At a recommended retail price of £65, I feel that this is a useful resource for both beginners and regular uses of ultrasound for regional anaesthesia. The authors' depth of clinical experience is evident from the text, and they have achieved their goal of providing an ‘easy to read source of information with particular attention to the steps and detail involved’.
