the r.a.s.c.i  course format

The format of this course is to provide 13 hours of accredited continuing medical education (CME) divided into 8 hours on a Saturday and 5 hours on a Sunday morning. The course is very intense.

The course is apportioned between;

(i) didactic lectures [17% of time],

(ii) visual demonstrations on human models [35% of time], and

(iii) hands-on workshops [48% of time],

Printed lecture material is provided.  The printed material is the University of Iowa peripheral nerve block anatomy and technique lecture notes of Dr. Raw for regional anesthesia residents and fellows (about 80 pages) , and the “Ultrasound imaging for regional anesthesia - a practical guide”, 2^nd edition, of Dr. Vincent Chan (about 200 pages).   

The hands-on workshops will have 5 elements divided over a total of 6 hours for 12 to 16 delegates;

Workshop session A (Saturday afternoon, Total available time = 1 hour +)

(i) Practice ultrasound transducer handling while using nerve block needles, on Gel-phantoms of nerves in tissue.  (Estimated practice x 15 minutes, observe a fellow delegate x 15 minutes) 5 stations

(ii) Learn operation of an ultrasound machine, Estimated 20 minutes explanation groups of 5-6.  1 station  

Workshop session B (Sunday morning. Total available time = 5 hours)

(iii) Ultrasound imaging practice on human model. 4 stations. One to 2 delegates per station. 15 minutes hands-on per delegate.

               a. Femoral, obturator, saphenous nerves.

               b. Sciatic, transgluteal and popliteal fossa approaches

               c. Interscalene and supraclavicular brachial plexus

               d. Infraclavicular and axilla brachial plexus

(iv) Handling stimulating catheter workshop (20- 30 minutes per delegate); Practice handling a styletted stimulating perineural catheter kit. 4 stations.   

(v) Pig workshop (30 min per delegate “on-needle”, one delegate watching); Practice placing stimulating nerve block needle onto real nerve using ultrasound guidance in an anesthetized pig. One deep nerve OAIP approach, one shallow nerve OAIP approach, one shallow nerve OAOP approach.