Ultrasound Guided Nerve Blocks
Program Overview

The NAPE ultrasound-guided nerve block program is an intensive, one-day training course conducted at the University of Utah; a state-of-the-art training facility with the latest audio-visual and digital equipment. The instructors for the course are faculty members at the University of Utah with extensive experience in performing ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve blocks.

The NAPE ultrasound-guided nerve block training program provides all the necessary knowledge and skills for physicians to implement ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia in their own practice. The goal of the program is to provide each participant with the following:

  1. Knowledge of ultrasound core concepts and principles including basic physics and knobology.
  2. An understanding of the clinical applications for ultrasound-guided anesthesia.
  3. A detailed understanding of the ultrasound anatomy of the neck and upper and lower extremities.
  4. The ability to readily identify key anatomic structures using ultrasound imaging, including vessels, nerves, and fascial planes.
  5. Proficiency in performing ultrasound-guided nerveblocks in the following locations:
    • Interscalene
    • Supraclavicular
    • Infraclavicular
    • Axillary
    • Distal ulnar, radial and median
    • Femoral
    • Popliteal fossa
    • Saphenous nerve at the knee
    • Tibial nerve at the ankle
  6. An understanding of the billing/coding procedures for ultrasound-guided nerve blocks.

To achieve the above program goals, class sizes are kept to a minimum with an approximate 4:1 student instructor ratio. Keeping the class sizes small allows instructors to provide individual attention to each student. The educational methods include both classroom and hands-on training, both of which are taught in a manner to assist students in achieving a high degree of comfort with the information, as well as in developing the technical skills to implement the procedures in their own practice.