Mayo Clinic Analgesic Pathway: Peripheral Nerve Blockade for Major Orthopedic Surgery and Procedural Training Manual PDF

FOREWORD

espite the explosion of new techniques and technologies, the single most important change in my practice in the past several years has been the introduction of perioperative regional block protocols. The entire perioperative experience for patients having hip and knee arthroplasty has been improved because of this multidisciplinary approach. Undoubtedly, this approach will be shown to lead to significantly lower narcotic use, a more benign postoperative course with fewer medical complications, lower overall hospital costs, and higher patient satisfaction. These results will lead to the expectation, by patients and physicians, that these block protocols are included in the standard of care. I am indebted to my anesthesia colleagues for the hard work that is required each and every day to make these protocols work for patients. As a surgeon, I undoubtedly receive far more of the credit and gratitude from my patients than deserved.