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ESRA Diploma

Certified ESRA Diploma on Regional Anaesthesia

esra diploma bannerThe ESRA Diploma on Regional Anaesthesia aims to educate clinicians involved in regional anesthesia in the latest developments in the field.

The EDRA Examinations Parts I and II take place each year at the ESRA annual meeting.

For more details visit the ESRA Europe diploma page.

Next exam sitting will be at the XXXI ESRA Congress in Bordeaux, France.

The registration fees to both exams is €100 (€50/retake).

On-line registration will open in March 2012

Exam format

Exam is taken over minimum 2 years

Part I - Written Exam
100 Multiple Choice Questions, 2 hours examination
Syllabus:

  • Anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology related to regional anaesthesia (including common concomitant diseases like diabetes, chronic lung disease, bleeding disorders etc).
  • Pharmacology of drugs commonly used in regional anaesthesia and pain therapy
  • Basic of statistics
  • Methods and strategies in regional anaesthesia and pain therapy
    • obstetrics, children, elderly, trauma and acute and chronic pain
    • Neuraxial blocks, peripheral nerve blocks
  • Equipment for block performance: e.g. nerve stimulator, ultrasound, perineural catheters

Part II - Practical Exam (only after passing the written exam)

25-30 minutes oral examination on block performance on live model as well as on procedure based regional anaesthesia (clinical case).

PRE-REQUISITES

Part I 
Please note that the following pre-requisites are required in order to take the Part I of the EDRA (written examination). The ESRA European Diploma Board (EDB) must validate all applications.

  • The applicant must have completed a minimum of 2 years in an established training program in anaesthesia.
  • The applicant must have completed a minimum of 1 workshop/course recognized by the ESRA diploma board in the  3 years prior to the date of application.
  • The applicant must be an ESRA member

Once accepted, the applicant will have to purchase a registration to the ESRA annual congress in order to finalize his/her application and pay for the examination.

Part II
Any applicants who have already taken Part I before 2012 must have successfully passed it within the last three years.

All new EDRA applicants 2012

1.) Written confirmation by the Head of the Department / Program director of performance of:

  • 150 neuraxial blocks including spinal, epidural and combined spinal/epidural
  • 150 peripheral nerve blocks
  • 75 upper limb nerve blocks including 30 interscalene, 30 infraclavicular/axillary and 15 distal nerve blocks at cubital and wrist level,
  • 75 lower limb nerve blocks including 20 proximal sciatic, 20 femoral, 20 popliteal and 15 single nerve blocks including blocks at the ankle level
  • 30 various nerve blocks including paravertebral, intercostal, abdominal wall blocks, penile, caudal and IVRA (Bier’s block)

2) Certificate of attendance of at least 4 courses/workshops during the last three years:

  • Minimum of 1 Cadaver workshop fulfilling ESRA requirements and approved by ESRA Diploma Board (EDB)
  • Minimum of 3 courses on anatomical landmarks and peripheral nerve stimulation, with or without use of ultrasound.
  • Two of these courses must fulfill ESRA diploma requirements and be approved by EDB.
  • All ESRA and non-ESRA approved workshop/courses must have CME/CPD approval from the approved national anaesthetic colleges/faculty or educational body where appropriate
  • Hands-on workshops on ultrasound-guided nerve blocks are recommended
  • All EDB approved courses and workshops should be evaluated and scored by EDB
  • To apply for ESRA Diploma a candidate must have a minimum of 13 points
    Minimum 3 points from EDB approved cadaver workshops;
    Minimum 4 points from EDB hands-on workshops
    Minimum 9 points out of required 13 points should be from EDB approved courses

3) Valid ESRA membership

You are recommended to check these criteria on the ESRA diploma page in case they have been recently update