Do ultrasound-guided regional blocks signify a new paradigm in high-risk patients?

Overview

It has been suggested for many years that regional anaesthesia is advantageous in high-risk patients, either as the sole anaesthetic or in combination with general anaesthesia. Regional techniques are safe and even more so when guided by ultrasound. In the high-risk patient population, ultrasound-guided regional anaesthesia (UGRA) can help decrease risk of perioperative morbidity and improve short-term as well as long-term outcomes, particularly in the orthopaedic, vascular, oncologic and chronic pain patient populations. Nevertheless, complications do still occur and benefits of a specific regional nerve blockade need to be weighed against potential risks on an individual basis. The emergence of reasonably priced, easy-to-use ultrasound machines facilitates regional anaesthesia, and this kind of anaesthesia may become the standard of care in high-risk patients.