{"title":"A low-cost ultrasound phantom for teaching fascial plane blocks, with integrated electrical and haptic feedback","authors":"J. R. Paulin, J. Chin","doi":"10.1002/anr3.70054","DOIUrl":"10.1002/anr3.70054","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Ultrasound-guided fascial plane blocks are increasingly used as part of multimodal peri-operative analgesia, yet opportunities for structured training in deliberate targeting of fascial planes remain limited. We describe a low-cost ultrasound phantom designed to teach core technical skills required for fascial plane blocks, including ultrasound recognition of tissue layers, tactile feedback on plane entry and accurate needle-tip positioning. The phantom combines readily available soft tissue analogues with a compliant film layer to simulate fascial resistance and a simple electrical circuit that provides objective confirmation of needle contact with defined anatomical boundaries. The design is material-agnostic, reproducible and adaptable to simulate techniques with or without bony end points. This ultrasound phantom provides an accessible educational tool which integrates sonographic, haptic and objective feedback for training in ultrasound-guided fascial plane blocks across a range of teaching environments.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":72186,"journal":{"name":"Anaesthesia reports","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147286280","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Consequences of spine imaging associated with guideline non-adherence in a pregnant patient with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia","authors":"V. Pinkert, A. Molitor, P. K. Rao, B. M. Togioka","doi":"10.1002/anr3.70052","DOIUrl":"10.1002/anr3.70052","url":null,"abstract":"<p>A pregnant woman with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia was referred to the obstetric anaesthetic team to determine the safety of neuraxial labour analgesia. International guidelines state that the risk of complications from spinal vascular malformations during neuraxial procedures is theoretical and recommend against routine imaging of the epidural space in asymptomatic patients. Despite this, magnetic resonance imaging was obtained to provide patient reassurance. Supine imaging was interpreted as showing an epidural arteriovenous malformation. A repeat scan in the lateral position demonstrated resolution of the apparent lesion, consistent with dynamic pregnancy-related engorgement of the epidural venous plexus due to inferior vena cava compression rather than true malformation. The initial interpretation led to the patient being incorrectly informed that neuraxial analgesia or anaesthesia were contraindicated, resulting in delayed epidural placement, inadequate labour analgesia and considerable anxiety. She ultimately received combined spinal-epidural analgesia, underwent urgent caesarean birth and recovered fully after transient postpartum femoral neuropathy; a third magnetic resonance imaging scan confirmed the absence of epidural haematoma. This case illustrates that non-adherence to guidelines and unnecessary imaging can create diagnostic confusion, delay effective treatment and expose patients to avoidable distress and additional investigations.</p>","PeriodicalId":72186,"journal":{"name":"Anaesthesia reports","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12917851/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147273191","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Anaesthetic considerations for a patient with Emery–Dreifuss muscular dystrophy undergoing cardiac resynchronisation therapy with pacemaker implantation","authors":"B. S. M. Ng, E. Lim, K. Valchanov","doi":"10.1002/anr3.70053","DOIUrl":"10.1002/anr3.70053","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Emery–Dreifuss muscular dystrophy is a rare inherited neuromuscular disorder characterised by early joint contractures, slowly progressive humero-peroneal weakness and cardiac conduction defects or cardiomyopathy. Although contractures and weakness usually begin in childhood, cardiac complications, such as atrioventricular block, arrhythmias and dilated cardiomyopathy, typically emerge in early adulthood and may cause sudden cardiac death, if unrecognised. Anaesthetic management is challenging due to potential airway complications from cervical contractures, restrictive respiratory physiology and cardiac instability. Pre-operative cardiac and pulmonary assessment is essential. Depolarising neuromuscular blocking agents and volatile anaesthetics are not absolutely contraindicated but are preferably avoided due to the risk of rhabdomyolysis or malignant hyperthermia-like reactions. Total intravenous anaesthesia is preferred to minimise these risks. We report a 27-year-old man with genetically confirmed Emery–Dreifuss muscular dystrophy and severe multisystem involvement who underwent cardiac resynchronisation therapy pacemaker implantation under total intravenous anaesthetic technique with rocuronium and reversal with sugammadex. Anaesthetic management focused on malignant hyperthermia precautions, airway preparation for limited cervical mobility and minimising arrhythmia risk with readiness for external cardiac pacing. The procedure and recovery were uneventful, demonstrating that the total intravenous anaesthetic technique can be an effective technique for patients with Emery–Dreifuss muscular dystrophy undergoing device implantation.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":72186,"journal":{"name":"Anaesthesia reports","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146230091","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
V. W. L. Ang, D. Y. Chee, S. H. Yap, W. J. Liew, W. K. Lau
{"title":"Improving decision-to-delivery interval for category 1 emergency caesarean births in a tertiary hospital","authors":"V. W. L. Ang, D. Y. Chee, S. H. Yap, W. J. Liew, W. K. Lau","doi":"10.1002/anr3.70051","DOIUrl":"10.1002/anr3.70051","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Timely emergency caesarean birth is critical to maternal and neonatal outcomes. International guidance recommends a decision-to-delivery interval of within 30 min for category 1 cases, yet achieving this target is challenging in hospitals without dedicated obstetric theatres. At our institution, where emergency obstetric cases share operating theatres with other surgical specialities, local audit demonstrated inconsistent compliance with the 30-min standard. A multidisciplinary quality improvement project was undertaken using sequential plan-do-study-act cycles. Interventions focused on reinforcing appropriate categorisation, improving anaesthetists' awareness of decision-to-delivery interval expectations and introducing standardised workflow posters to support activation and escalation during emergencies. The primary outcome was the proportion of category 1 emergency caesarean births with a decision-to-delivery interval within 30 min, assessed using run-chart methodology. Following implementation, performance improved and was sustained above the institutional target of over 90% compliance with the decision-to-delivery interval within 30 min for category 1 caesarean births over a 12-month period. No maternal or neonatal adverse events or unintended theatre workflow disruptions were observed. This project demonstrates that low-cost, system-focused interventions can improve emergency obstetric timeliness in shared theatre environments and may be transferable to similar settings.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":72186,"journal":{"name":"Anaesthesia reports","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146203907","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
D. Zamudio, L. Gisbert, G. Egea, V. Heras, R. Real
{"title":"Ultralow concentration levobupivacaine 0.0625% for continuous wound infusion after open abdominal surgery: a prospective observational study","authors":"D. Zamudio, L. Gisbert, G. Egea, V. Heras, R. Real","doi":"10.1002/anr3.70050","DOIUrl":"10.1002/anr3.70050","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Continuous wound infusion with local anaesthetics after open abdominal surgery may provide opioid-sparing analgesia, but evidence on very low-concentration regimens is limited. We conducted a prospective observational study including 50 patients receiving continuous infusion of levobupivacaine 0.0625% via pre-peritoneal or subfascial catheters at a flow rate of 12 ml.h<sup>−1</sup> per catheter. Six patients (12%) required intravenous morphine rescue in the first 48 h, with a median dose of 3 mg. Median pain scores remained consistently low and 14 patients (28%) received additional local anaesthetic boluses with effective relief. No major catheter-related complications or systemic local anaesthetic toxicity were observed. Continuous wound infusion with levobupivacaine 0.0625% after open abdominal surgery was feasible and associated with minimal opioid use. These findings provide preliminary evidence supporting the feasibility of an ultralow concentration regimen.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":72186,"journal":{"name":"Anaesthesia reports","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146047518","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}