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options provide images that make it easier and faster to place blocks."
2. Advanced catheters and needles
Ultrasound isn't the only technology that's been reengineered to make placing
CNBs easier. Here are a few advanced catheter and needle features that might
interest you.
• Echogenic needles.
This technology makes
needles and catheters
show up "brighter" on an
ultrasound display, which
can potentially help
improve your providers'
placement of blocks.
"When researchers review
this topic in the future,
they will see that
echogenic needles made a
big difference," says
Sharad K. Khetarpal, MD,
MBBS, FFARCSI, a clini-
cal assistant professor of
anesthesiology at the
University of Pittsburgh
School of Medicine. In par-
ticular, echogenic needles
and catheters are helpful
for providers who don't
perform blocks regularly
