The WFSA Global Anesthesia Workforce Survey.

Background: Safe anesthesia and surgical care are not available when needed for 5 billion of the world's 7 billion people. There are major deficiencies in the specialist surgical workforce in many parts of the world, and specific data on the anesthesia workforce are lacking.

Methods: The World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists conducted a workforce survey during 2015 and 2016.

A randomised double-blind study of interpleural analgesia after cholecystectomy.

Continuous interpleural analgesia provided by 4 hourly injections of 20 ml bupivacaine 0.5% with adrenaline 5 micrograms/ml was compared with placebo in a randomised, double-blind study after cholecystectomy. All patients self-administered intravenous morphine using a patient-controlled analgesia device.

Nerve blocks around the knee in children.

Analgesia below the knee can be achieved by blocking the tibial nerve and the common peroneal nerve in the popliteal fossa, and the saphenous nerve adjacent to the knee. The anatomy and technique of nerve block in the popliteal fossa is described, the nerve being located prior to blockade using a peripheral nerve stimulator. The block as described has been used in children for postoperative analgesia, as a diagnostic block, and as an adjunct to the physiotherapy management of severe equinus deformity after brain injury.

Temporary tibial nerve block: adjunct to inhibitory plasters in the physiotherapy management of equinus in severely head injured children.

Spastic equinus, resulting from severe head injury in children, can greatly impede their rehabilitation. The use of a temporary tibial nerve block to negate the neurological component of the equinus, prior to the application of inhibitory plasters, is described and the rationale detailed. Subsequent physiotherapy management, including the application of the plasters, is discussed.

Anaesthesia and the mucopolysaccharidoses: a survey of techniques and problems.

Mucopolysaccharide infiltration of tissues in Hurler, Hunter, San Filippo, Maroteaux-Lamy, Morquio and Scheie syndromes causes problems to anaesthetists in the management of the airway and in myocardial function. Recent experience at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, is presented with illustrations highlighting these problems.