title: A pilot in vitro evaluation of the "air test" for perineural catheter tip localization by a novice regional anesthesiologist.
abstract: The "air test" is used clinically to infer perineural catheter location and has been recently evaluated for use by experts. However, its utility for practitioners with less experience is unknown. We tested the hypothesis that the air test, when performed by a novice regional anesthesiologist, will improve assessment of perineural catheter tip position in a validated porcine-bovine model and determined the test's positive and negative predictive values, sensitivity, and specificity for a novice. In contrast to the results of the expert study, the air test did not improve the novice's assessment of perineural catheter tip location over chance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California USA; and Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California USA.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Johns
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California USA; and Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California USA.
authors.forename: T Kyle
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California USA; and Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California USA.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Steffel
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California USA; and Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California USA.
authors.forename: Steven K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California USA; and Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California USA.
authors.forename: T Edward
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California USA; and Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California USA.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kou
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California USA; and Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California USA. emariano@stanford.edu.
authors.forename: Edward R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Mariano
mesh_terms: D000388:Air; D000765:Anesthesia, Conduction / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D057785:Catheters; D002417:Cattle; D002983:Clinical Competence; D023421:Models, Animal; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013552:Swine; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*
keywords: air test; perineural catheter; point-of-care ultrasound; sensitivity; specificity; ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia