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Abstract
Background and Aims Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust (LTHT) is one of the largest teaching hospitals in Europe providing local and specialist services to a million patients every year. We aimed to assess the clinical practice of peripheral nerve blocks (PNB) in our department by conducting a snapshot survey of its usage over a two-week period.
Methods Using an electronic survey form, we collected anonymised information from anaesthetists about the number and type of blocks, the theatre and hospital site, and the recipe used for each block. Theatre lists and operations were then analysed for this time period for the potential PNBs that could have been done for patients. We contacted consultants for them to share their expert local anaesthetic recipes for blocks performed in their regular practice. All data for this audit were collated using Microsoft Excel®.
Results We estimated 439 PNB could have potentially been performed however only 175 blocks were reported during this period. The majority of blocks were performed by consultants. Some responses suggested the need for additional training. We estimate approximately 9,219 PNBs are performed at Leeds every year. Figures 1–3 show detailed breakdown of our data collected including a ‘theatre map’ for PNB.
Grade of anaesthetist performing nerve blocks (85 responses)
Types of peripheral nerve blocks reported and estimates. Comparing the theatre activity of data collection period and the year leading to it gave as a multiplication factor of 21 for annual estimates
Representative example of the theatre map created for peripheral nerve blocks and local anaesthetic recipes for a typical Monday at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Conclusions LTHT provides excellent training opportunities for a variety of PNB. We appreciate there may have been a degree of under reporting by staff in this survey, but we will explore if there are any barriers in performing PNB for anaesthetists at Leeds. Creating a PNB database will facilitate safe clinical practice and support training in regional anaesthesia.