title: A practical guide to commonly performed ultrasound-guided peripheral-nerve blocks.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Regional anesthesia has experienced a tremendous renaissance of interest over the past several years. Much of this renewed enthusiasm among clinicians is due to the increased usage of ultrasound guidance for peripheral-nerve blocks. This review serves as a useful foundation for the most commonly employed ultrasound-guided blocks utilized by the clinician.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With recent advances in both sonographic capability and access for anesthesia providers, many peripheral-nerve blocks have become quite amenable to being placed with ultrasound guidance. In addition, the subspecialty of ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia is being further pioneered via both anatomical and pharmacological studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With ultrasound guidance, the regional anesthesiologist has yet another tool to enhance both the accuracy and success of peripheral-nerve blockade. This article serves to display the most clinically relevant nerve blocks utilized in the perioperative setting. It is meant to be used as a clinical starting point for the development of regional anesthesia skills.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University Health System, Durham, NC 27710, USA. mitchell.fingerman@duke.edu
authors.forename: Mitchell
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fingerman
authors.forename: James G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Benonis
authors.forename: Gavin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000193:education*; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005267:Femoral Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional