Ultrasound Guided Regional Anesthesia Workshop [Link to top]

This 2.5-day ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia workshop focuses on hands-on scanning and needling practice. To maximize the hands-on experience, registrants are required to study the online course materials before attending the workshop. There is a substantial amount of materials to cover and approximately 6-8 hours of study time prior to the workshop are recommended. At the end of this course, participants would have acquired a thorough knowledge of imaging and needling techniques for regional anesthesia.

This course has a number of distinguishing features:

Pre-course online material
Brief didactic introductions
Maximizes hands-on scanning practice
Low participant: instructor ratio (6:1)
Course taught by University of Toronto faculty and guest faculty

Day 1 (Saturday 7:30 to 17:00)

• More than 5 hours of supervised hands-on scanning on live models
• Opportunity to use a variety of ultrasound machines (BK Medical, GE, Philips, SonoSite and others)
• A wide selection of topics to choose from
• Practical tips and tricks for ultrasound guided blocks
• Knowledge evaluation with immediate feedback

Day 2 (Sunday 7:30 am to 16:30 pm)

• Ask the expert scanning stations and further hands on scanning practice
• Opportunity to use a variety of ultrasound machines (BK Medical, GE, Philips, SonoSite and others)
• Panel and open forum discussion with the experts
• Knowledge evaluation with immediate feedback

Day 3 (Optional) (Either 8:00 to 12:00 OR 13:00 to 17:00)

• Half-day anatomy lab
• Hands-on scanning and needling practice on cadaver models with instructor feedback
• A fully interactive program

Early registration is encouraged.

The Saturday-Sunday (2-day) workshop will accommodate up to 48 registrants. The Monday (1/2 day) anatomy lab will be limited to 18 registrants in the morning and 18 registrants in the afternoon.

Registration fee includes an "Ultrasound Imaging for Regional Anesthesia - A Practical Guide" booklet, refreshment on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, and breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday.
Lunch is NOT provided on Monday.

Available Dates [Link to top]

2019 UGR workshop is done and next course will be at ISURA June 5-8, 2020

Program Guide [Link to top]

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the regional anesthesia workshop, the participant should be better able to:

• Describe the basic principles of ultrasound imaging for regional anesthesia
• Use proper equipment settings, transducers and ergonomics for specific blocks
• Correctly identify relevant sonoanatomy of the upper limb, lower limb, trunk and spine
• Describe different approaches to nerve blocks in the above mentioned regions
• Discuss nerve block indications and selection for specific surgical procedures
• Distinguish typical ultrasound findings of normal lung vs. pneumothorax and diaphragmatic paresis
• Acquire eye-hand coordination and needling skills (optional Monday program)
• Place peripheral nerve catheters under ultrasound guidance (optional Monday program)

Workshop Topics (Select a total of 7 topics ONLY)

Basic Topics

1. Brachial Plexus Block Above the Clavicle - Interscalene, Supraclavicular
2. Brachial Plexus Block Below the Clavicle - Infraclavicular, Axillary
3. Peripheral Nerve Blocks of the Upper Extremity - Median, Musculocutaneous, Radial, and Ulnar Nerves
4. Blocks for the Knee Joint - Femoral Nerve, Adductor Canal and iPACK Blocks
5. Blocks for the Foot and Ankle - Popliteal Sciatic Nerve, Saphenous Nerve and Ankle Blocks
6. Chest Wall Plane Blocks - PECS I, II, Serratus Plane, Intercostal Nerve Blocks
7. Abdominal Wall Plane Blocks - Quadratus Lumborum, Transversalis Fascia Plane, TAP and Ilio-inguinal and Ilio-hypogastric Nerve Blocks
8. Basic Knobology and Phantom Needling
9. Ultrasound of the Spine (Basic) - normal anatomy

More Advanced Topics

10. Ultrasound Diagnosis of Pneumothorax and Diaphragmatic Paresis
11. Thoracic Paravertebral, Erector Spinae Plane, Retrolaminar Blocks
12. Ultrasound of the Spine (Advanced) - Challenging Anatomy (Obesity, Scoliosis, Instrumentation)
13. Blocks for Hip Fracture & Spine Surgery - Periarticular Hip Block, Fascia Iliaca Block, Thoracolumbar Interfascial Plane Block
14. Less Common Blocks in Neck & Upper Extremity - Superficial Cervical Plexus, Supraclavicular Nerve, Suprascapular Nerve, Axillary Nerve, Costoclavicular Brachial Plexus Approach
15. Less Common Blocks in Lower Extremity - Obturator Nerve, Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve, Proximal Sciatic Nerve Block

Saturday Day 1

Sunday Day 2

Monday Day 3, (Optional Half-day Anatomy Lab)

Faculty [Link to top]

CME Credits [Link to top]

This education event has been approved as an Accredited Group Learning Activity under Section 1 of the Framework of CPD options for the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada for Section 1 credits (credit number TBA) and the Physician's Recognition Award of the American Medical Association - Category 1 credits (credit number TBA).

Accommodation [Link to top]

The Eaton Chelsea Hotel - 33 Gerrard St W, Toronto.
The Toronto Marriott Downtown Eaton Centre Hotel - 525 Bay St, Toronto.
The Park Hyatt Toronto - 4 Avenue Rd Toronto.
The Holiday Inn Toronto Downtown Centre - 30 Carlton Street, Toronto.
The Toronto Marriott Bloor Yorkville - 90 Bloor St E, Toronto.
The InterContinental Toronto Yorkville - 220 Bloor St W, Toronto.

Toronto Hotels
Things to do in Toronto

Registration [Link to top]

The registration fee will include complimentary meals (breakfast x 2 day, lunch x 2 day, breaks x 3 days), an ultrasound booklet, didactic lectures, hands on practical sessions and examination.

Full Program (Saturday, Sunday & Monday Workshops)
Fee: $1450 (Canadian) + Tax
Where: Toronto General Hospital

Saturday & Sunday Workshop
Fee: $1100 (Canadian) + Tax
Where: Toronto General Hospital

Registration Process:
Register early for guaranteed attendance!
Registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Registration forms are accepted by Mail or Fax.

2019 UGR workshop is done and next course will be at ISURA June 5-8, 2020.

Christine Drane
Departmental Administrator
Department of Anesthesia
Toronto Western Hospital
University Health Network
399 Bathurst St., McL 2-405
Toronto, ON, M5T 2S8, Canada
Tel. 416-603-5118
Fax. 416-603-6494
E-mail: christine.drane@uhn.ca

Cancellation/Refund Policy:
The full registration fee less $100 administration fee will be refunded, if written notice of cancellation (e-mail or fax) is received no later than 21 days prior to the workshop date. No refund for cancellation less than 21 days. Registration may be transferred among colleagues or be applied to a future course within one year. In the unlikely event that a course is rescheduled or cancelled, pre-paid registrants will be given the opportunity to transfer to a future course or may receive a full refund. The course organizer will not be responsible for any travel and/or lodging reimbursements.

Directions to Workshop [Link to top]

200 Elizabeth St, Toronto, ON M5G 2C4

Nearest Major Intersection
College Street and University Avenue (south of Queen's Park). TGH is located along the east side of University Avenue, just south of College Street. Public Transportation

Subway
Queen's Park subway station, on the University branch of the Yonge-University-Spadina line (Line 1)

Streetcar
506 Carlton - University stop, and walk south; or ??Elizabeth Street stop and walk south along Elizabeth
505 Dundas - University stop, and walk north up University Avenue