latest portable ultrasound machines are more streamlined, have a
smaller footprint and offer much higher quality images — all at a
lower price tag.
Technique is important when performing ultrasound-guided blocks.
Inserting the needle right next to the probe makes the needle much
harder to visualize with ultrasound, due to the steep insertion angle.
To see the needle better, insert the needle much farther from the ultra-
sound probe.
3. Find the right pain pump
Your choices in pain pumps are endless, which can make the task of
choosing the right one for your patients overwhelming. Typically, it's
best to first break down your options into either elastomeric or elec-
tronic categories. Elastomeric are often more simple and disposable
and don't require a battery or other electronic feature to deliver the
anesthetic, while electronic pumps are programmed specifically for the
patient and when finished are often mailed back to the company or
facility to be cleaned and reused on future patients. Disposable elec-
tronic pumps are also available.
There are benefits and disadvantages to both. Typically in most out-
patient environments, a simple, disposable elastomeric pump will
work well, especially if it has a bolus feature, which some studies
have shown improve pain management for post-op patients. However,
disposable, elastomeric pumps can be less accurate at providing pre-
cise amounts of local anesthetic to the patient. Electronic pumps
often have useful features like 24-hour delays that can prolong post-
op analgesia, but remember that the more features a pump has, the
more that can potentially go wrong with it.
Benefits of one pump type versus another may vary depending on
the surgery. For blocks that tend to have a high success rate with a
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