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Integrating a Cadaver Review Session into the Existing Regional Anesthesia Training for Anesthesiology Residents: An Initial Experience

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Abstract

The Department of Anesthesiology’s Acute Pain Service (APS) places ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs) to manage acute peri-operative pain. PNB success is dependent on detailed anatomical knowledge which residents may not have formally reviewed since medical school. This study describes the integration of a cadaver review session (CRS) that reintroduces PNB-related anatomy into the existing APS rotation. During each CRS, an anatomist reviewed the major nerve and surrounding structures, while an APS attending integrated the anatomy with PNB techniques. During the pilot, 1st- and 3rd-year clinical anesthesia (CA) residents (9 CA1s, 7 CA3s) completed pre- and post-session surveys and rated the CRS’s perceived value and impact on self-confidence with anatomical knowledge. Following the pilot, an additional 17 CA1s and 9 CA3s participated in the CRS and completed post-session surveys. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize responses and unpaired t tests were used to compare pre- and post-session responses and responses between cohorts. All participants were overwhelmingly positive about the CRS and its value to the APS rotation, with 98% agreeing they recommend the CRS and found it accessible. Residents believed participation would improve board exam (average = 4.83 ± 0.66) and clinical performance (average = 4.86 ± 0.65), and self-reported increases in confidence with anatomical knowledge. Residents in the pilot group reported significantly greater confidence (p < 0.01) in their perceived anatomical knowledge after the CRS. The CRS positively impacted resident confidence in their anatomical knowledge and perceived ability to identify anatomical structures. Residents reported the CRS was a highly valued addition to regional anesthesia training.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology & Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Andrew S. Cale

  2. Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA

    Adrian Hendrickse & Matthew Lyman

  3. Modern Human Anatomy Program, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA

    Danielle F. Royer

  4. Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA

    Danielle F. Royer

Authors
  1. Andrew S. Cale
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  2. Adrian Hendrickse
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  3. Matthew Lyman
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  4. Danielle F. Royer
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Correspondence to Danielle F. Royer.

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The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institution (Colorado Institutional Review Board, ID# 17-1427) and with the 1964 Helinski declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Cale, A.S., Hendrickse, A., Lyman, M. et al. Integrating a Cadaver Review Session into the Existing Regional Anesthesia Training for Anesthesiology Residents: An Initial Experience. Med.Sci.Educ. 30, 695–703 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-020-00934-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-020-00934-z

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