Hadzic's Regional Anesthesia > Part X. Regional Anesthesia in Specific Patient Populations > Chapter 66. Regional Anesthesia in Austere Environment Medicine Chester C. Buckenmaier, III, MD

Perioperative Medicine & Acute Pain Control

"The successful application of regional anesthesia in austere environments requires anesthesiologists to embrace their role as physicians of perioperative medicine. Simply put, the anesthesiologist must accept responsibility for the patient's operative care before, during, and long after his or her surgical procedure. Although this extended role for the anesthesiologist beyond the operating room and recovery area is nontraditional, the anesthesiologist is uniquely trained to manage perioperative pain and enhance recovery using a multimodal approach that includes advanced regional anesthesia techniques and technologies. The anesthesiologist's perioperative role is enhanced through the establishment of a regional anesthesia/acute pain section. The anesthesiologist working outside of the operating room in the regional anesthesia/acute pain section facilitates the introduction of advanced regional anesthesia both in modern hospitals and in AEA. This location is equipped with regional anesthesia supplies and should have basic monitors, oxygen, suction, airway and resuscitation equipment and medications in the event of an emergency. This investment in resources has profound advantages in the AEA environment. The regional anesthesia section facilitates patient preparation for surgery, and, if appropriate, blocks with long-acting local anesthetics or CPNB can be established before previous surgery patients are out of the operating room, thus improving efficiency. The block area anesthesiologist is also available to serve as a perioperative medical consultant, critical..."