title: [Changing trends and regional anesthesia practices in Turkey].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Introduction of ultrasound into regional anesthesia (RA) practice has resulted in important changes and developments in RA. These developments have had a major influence on the way of practice and choice of blocks. The purpose of this study was to present the most recent instruments used in RA and clinical applications in our country.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire consisting of 10 questions were distributed to the participants of the National RA Congress in 2011. Besides demographic data, RA techniques used and the method of nerve location was questioned. Participants were asked whether they were satisfied with their training in RA and if they participated in a RA course.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 95 participants filled out the forms. Spinal anesthesia was the most commonly performed technique. Peripheral nerve blocks constitute only 12% of RA practice. Axillary block was the most commonly performed peripheral nerve block technique. The most commonly used nerve localization methods were nerve stimulation and ultrasound. The majority of the participants (58%) were not satisfied with their RA training and half (50%) participated in a course for continuing medical education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nerve stimulation is the most performed method, whereas US is increasingly becoming popular. The most commonly performed blocks are central neuroaxial blocks. All in all, there is still room for improvement in RA training.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli, Turkey. yavuzgurkanmd@gmail.com
authors.forename: Yavuz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gürkan
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Alparslan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuş
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Can
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aksu
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation Cerrahpasa University İstanbul Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ciğdem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ohtaroğlu
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Solak
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kamil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Toker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010148:Intractable Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*