Ultrasound-Guided Regional Anesthesia for Peripheral Nerve Blocks: An Evidence-Based Outcome Review

Ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia (UGRA) has increased in popularity over the past 5 years. This interest is reflected by the plethora of publications devoted to technique development as well as randomized and controlled trials. The journal of the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA), Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, has recently devoted a dedicated section to UGRA. Further evidence of the interest in ultrasonography by our community is the comprehensive coverage of UGRA at national and international meetings. Despite the excitement around ultrasound (US), skeptics argue that there is a lack of evidence-based medicine to support the unequivocal adoption of UGRA as a “standard of care.” This article summarizes and critically assesses current data comparing traditional approaches to localizing nerves with those that use US guidance. In addition, the authors explore the potential benefits of UGRA that go beyond current information available from comparative studies.