title: Regional anaesthesia: back to basics.
abstract: Regional anaesthesia has become more popular in recent years with an emphasis on cost effectiveness, bed occupancy, and reduction in hospital acquired infections (HAls). Anaesthesia is a worrying time for any patient, but now the emphasis is to encourage patient empowerment by involving patients in their own care throughout their holistic journey. This article explores patient selection for regional anaesthesia, and the different types of central and peripheral blocks in line with national policies. The equipment required, pharmacology, toxicity of local anaesthetics, and their physiological effects on the cardiovascular, respiratory, and gastrointestinal systems of the body will also be discussed.
authors.affiliation: Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford and Fulborun Campus, Bishop Hall Lane, Chelmsford, CM1 1SQ. angela.cobbold@anglia.ac.uk
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cobbold
authors.forename: Trevor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Money
mesh_terms: D000765:Anesthesia, Conduction / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000145:classification / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000506:poisoning / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D009871:Operating Room Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D056888:Patient Positioning; D018579:Patient Selection; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D017751:Safety Management
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local