Guidelines

Guideline 1

RA-UK guidelines for supervision of patients during peripheral regional anaesthesia

RA-UK has been asked by members to advise on the requirements for the presence of an anaesthetist throughout regional anaesthesia (RA) procedures.

The current guidelines from the AAGBI state that: “An anaesthetist of appropriate experience must be present throughout general anaesthesia, including any period of cardiopulmonary bypass. Using clinical skills and monitoring equipment, the anaesthetist must care for the patient continuously. The same standards must apply when an anaesthetist is responsible for a local/regional anaestheticor sedative technique for an operative procedure”¹. The RCoA makes similar recommendations and also states that “one anaesthetist cannot provide direct care for more than one patient receiving general or regional anaesthesia, or sedation”.².

However, RA-UK considers that many awake patients having limb surgery with RA do not require the same level of supervision as patients receiving general anaesthesia.

RA-UK considers that, in certain well-defined circumstances, an anaesthetist is not required to be present throughout surgery with peripheral regional anaesthesia.

The patient can then be supervised and monitored by a suitably competent health care worker who has been specifically trained in patient monitoring, competency being defined according to the AAGBI requirements for PACU (recovery) nursing.

Read the full guidance. 

Download statement.