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Plan A Core Structures article published

We are pleased to announce the publication of the RA-UK Plan A core structures paper an "International consensus on anatomical structures to identify on ultrasound for the performance of basic blocks in ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia". This paper, led by Dr James Bowness" on behalf of RA-UK, and endorsed by ASRA and ESRA, is an important consensus on which structures should be identified by the non-expert during the performance of the 7 Plan A blocks. We thanks all the international contributors to the Delphi process for their hard work on this.

New research database

We have added a new section on the site, in the research section, which is a database of all the regional anaesthesia trials currently happening in the UK. We hope this will be a useful resource, helping to put active researchers in touch with each other, and enable site expansion too.

We would love to hear from you if you are the PI on a research trial missing from the database. Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

New AoA guidelines

RA-UK has been involved in two new guidelines from th Association of Anaesthetists.

Firstly, the association of anaesthestests has just published a new guidance on regional analgesia for lower leg trauma and the risk of acute compartment syndrome

This guideline stresses an important point about patient autonomy in the shared decision around pain control and risk of a rare but serious complication. It is bound to generate further discussions about this contentious topic.

Secondly, our immediate past president, Dr Amit Pawa was involved in the new standards for monitoring guideline. This shores up advice around the performance of regional anaesthesia in outside areas, and of second blocks during awake surgery.

A message from the new president of RA-UK

It is a huge honour to write to everyone as the new President of RA-UK. I must of course firstly thank Amit Pawa under whose guidance the society has flourished over the past few years. Membership has more than doubled, the ASM has been revamped and RAUK is increasingly involved in collaborations with the RCoA, the AoA, ESRA and ASRA. You will hopefully have seen the new nerve injury guidance in conjunction with the British Orthopaedic Association and the Fascia iliaca block and non physician practitioner statement, whilst there are documents coming out soon on Stop Before You Block, compartment syndrome, ergonomics, monitoring, defining the essential anatomical structures to visualise for Plan A blocks and block nomenclature that various members of the board have all contributed to along with other organisations. I am grateful that the board is made up of such an enthusiastic, inspiring team and I am looking forward to seeing what we can achieve in the next three years together. On that note it is sad to see Ben Fox leave and we thank him for all his work and wish him well. We are however delighted that Athmaja Thottungal has now joined us with all the RA and chronic pain expertise that she brings.

Read more: A message from the new president of RA-UK

RA-UK ASM Catch up now available.

You can now rewatch all the fantastic RA-UK 2021 ASM on demand using your login/password from the conference.

If you didn't attend at the time, you can now view on demand, either by lecture (£20 per session), or for the whole conference (for the bargain price of £100 for 2 days).

https://ra-uk.talkingslideshd.com/home