Ultrasound and peripheral blocks for acute and chronic pain: A review

In the regional anesthesia field we assisted to an increasing study and use of ultrasound imaging for peripheral nerve blocks. This approach has been appreciated for good reliability in terms of clinical outcome of blocks and in terms of safety of the procedure. For this reason, ultrasound guidance is nearing to become the standard of care in regional anesthesia and for postoperative pain management. However, its role in invasive procedures in pain medicine is still discussed. The availability of other imaging techniques and lack of familiarization with ultrasonographic imaging are some of the reasons beneath this discrepancy. However, important steps are being made lately towards the development of safe, available and clinically efficient ultrasound guided techniques for many procedures in the pain medicine field.