Regional hemodynamic changes after an axillary brachial plexus block: a pulsed-wave Doppler ultrasound study.

Background: Brachial plexus block (BPB) causes vasodilatation and an increase in blood flow to the ipsilateral upper limb. However, no reports have comprehensively evaluated the regional hemodynamic changes after a BPB.

Methods: Eight healthy adult patients who were scheduled for elective hand surgery had an ultrasound-guided axillary BPB for anesthesia.

Gelatin-agar lumbosacral spine phantom: a simple model for learning the basic skills required to perform real-time sonographically guided central neuraxial blocks.

This report describes the preparation of a gelatin-agar spine phantom that was used for spinal sonography and to practice the hand-eye coordination skills required to perform sonographically guided central neuraxial blocks. The phantom was prepared by embedding a lumbosacral spine model into a mixture of gelatin and agar in a plastic box. Cellulose powder and chlorhexidine were also added to the mixture, after which it was allowed to solidify.