Ultrasound for central venous cannulation – are you trained to use it?

A survey of ultrasound use by academic and community anesthesiologists in Ontario

“…12 In contrast, a survey from Wales in 2009 reported that 63% of consultants surveyed used U/S routinely for the placement of central venous cannula. 13 Furthermore, our study reports a higher degree of U/S use for RA techniques, such as brachial plexus blocks, than reported by Brull et al in a 2008 survey of ASRA members (33% vs 15%, respectively). 7 Although there is only a twoyear difference between these respective studies, the increase in U/S use may reflect a rapid rate of adoption of U/S over a relatively short period of time.…”

Editorial: Farewell to history

“…Training, with the ultimate aim of gaining competence and proficiency through the acquisition of knowledge, skill and efficiency, would appear to remain paramount. In 2008, McGratton’s survey of 2000 UK consultants reported that ultrasound was used more frequently when teaching than when not (35% vs 27%) [7], and in response to this Harris and Hodzovic [8] presented their results from 122 consultants working in South Wales, where 63% of consultants used ultrasound routinely but this figure increased to 83% when teaching. If these reported figures are reflected nationwide, then perhaps they explain why 96% of Harber et al.’s post‐2002 cohort used real‐time ultrasound guidance.…”