Stimulating nerve catheters in regional anaesthesia

The practice of regional anaesthesia has evolved from mechanically stimulating a nerve with a needle and thereby eliciting paraesthesia to the fine art of using state-of-the art electrolocation using peripheral nerve stimulators and insulated needles. The stimulating nerve catheter is a very useful addition to the armamentarium of the regional anaesthesia practitioner. The stimulating nerve catheter makes it possible to verify the perineural location before delivering targeted continuous infusion of local anaesthetic for extended pain relief. The increasing use of ultrasound in echolocation of neural structures has added a new dimension to the popularity of peripheral nerve blocks.