Regional anaesthesia practices in India: A nationwide survey

Background and Aims: There are no surveys documenting the existing regional anaesthesia (RA) practices in our country. This nationwide survey aims to record the existing RA practices, identify any lacunae that might exist and project the future direction of evolution. Methods: This online survey consisting of 31 questions was sent to all members of the Indian Society of Anaesthesiologists and addressed participants' demographic features, central neuraxial block and peripheral nerve block practices, drug selection, RA training and safety measures. The data were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 24.0. All categorical variables were expressed as frequencies and percentages. Results: A total of 2141 responses were received, with participants distributed across the country. Forty-two per cent of the respondents reported that more than 60% of surgeries were performed under RA. Most of the participants use 'traditional' test dose for epidural space confirmation. Fifty participants (2.4%) use ultrasound for neuraxial space identification. Twenty per cent of the participants use a checklist for monitoring post-operative epidural analgesia. 6.7% have undergone specialised training in RA. Around 3.5% of the respondents have performed a wrong-side block. 31.4% of the respondents store intralipid in the operating room. Conclusion: The current survey highlights the prevailing practices, various deficiencies in monitoring and the need for RA training programmes. The data accrued can serve as a baseline for future comparison.