Emergency Medicine (Advanced)
2 days
Nerve Block Ultrasound Course (Emergency)
(Peripheral Nerves, Truncal Nerves)
ASUM, ACEM, ACRRM, RACGP
Course highlights
- Revise anatomy and innervation of peripheral and axial nerves.
- Review requirements for safe practice.
- Practice finding the appropriate nerve, space or plane on a variety of live models.
- Hone your needle tip visualisation and fine motor skills on purpose built phantoms.
- Discuss the utility of each block within common case scenarios.
Course Dates
Description
Regional anaesthesia, guided by ultrasound, expands the pain management options for Emergency Physicians. This advanced technique provides a safe alternative to procedural sedation, facilitates painful procedures, and reduces reliance on opioids for acute and chronic pain management in high-risk patients.
In this intensive two-day nerve block course, you’ll refine your point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) skills while learning to safely and effectively perform a wide range of nerve and truncal blocks. From head to toe, our expert faculty will guide you through the techniques, clinical applications, and potential pitfalls of each block.
By the end of the course, you’ll have the skills and confidence to use nerve blocks for managing:
- Fracture reductions and dislocations: Anaesthesia for distal radius, shoulder, elbow, and ankle injuries.
- Opioid-sparing pain relief: Long-acting analgesia for rib and hip fractures.
- Procedural facilitation: Central line and pleural drain placement, abscess incision and drainage, foreign body removal, and complex laceration repair.
What you’ll learn
Day 1
- Fundamentals of nerve blocks: Key principles, safety, and optimisation techniques.
- Upper limb blocks: Suprascapular, axillary, elbow, and wrist.
- Lower limb blocks: PENG, fascia iliaca, femoral, saphenous, popliteal sciatic, posterior tibial, and ankle blocks.
- Orofacial blocks: Pain relief strategies for facial injuries and procedures.
- Case-based discussions: Practical application and decision-making for emergency scenarios.
Day 2
- Axial blocks: Superficial cervical plexus, interscalene, and supraclavicular.
- Thoracic blocks: Serratus anterior and erector spinae.
- Truncal blocks: Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) and rectus sheath.
- Case-based discussions: Integrating advanced techniques into clinical practice.
This nerve block course is led by an Emergency Physician. For nerve blocks led by an Anaesthetist, please click here.
Register today — Pay later.
Select “Invoice Me” at checkout to receive a tax invoice due 45 days before your course.
Ideal if you’re waiting on funding or leave approval.
Who should attend?
- Emergency Physician
- Junior House Officer
- Nurse
- Nurse Practitioner
- Paediatrician
- Palliative Medicine Physician
- Paramedic
- Retrieval Medicine Physician
- Rural Generalist
- Senior House Officer
Objectives
Participants in this nerve block course will:
- Perform in-plane needle techniques on purpose built phantoms.
- Describe the indications, risks and benefits of peripheral versus axial versus plane blocks.
- Demonstrate ability to identify the anatomy of the common blocks and recognise the pertinent anatomical and pharmacological risks.
- Demonstrate patient and machine optimisation techniques for different tasks.
- Explain the pre-requisites and requirements for safe regional anaesthesia.
- Recognise and discuss alternative methods of analgesia for common tasks and propose the most appropriate.
Prerequisites
The prior ultrasound experience assumed for this course is highlighted below.
| None/Minimal | Don’t use ultrasound |
| Limited | Use ultrasound weekly/monthly |
| Moderate/Experienced | Use ultrasound daily/weekly |
Accreditation
ASUM
ASUM accredited training program. CCPU units included in the course:
- Distal Brachial Plexus Block: Infraclavicular/Axillary
- Proximal Brachial Plexus Block: Supraclavicular/Interscalene
- Upper Limb Peripheral Nerve Blocks
- Erector Spinae Plane Block
- Serratus Anterior Plane Block
- Fascia Iliaca and Femoral Nerve Block
ACEM
Approved for Educational Activities 15.25 hours.
ACRRM
This course is approved for 16 total activity hours. PDP units: 1 Performance Review, 6 Performance Review, 9 Educational Activity. MOPS points: 14. Grant eligibility: Emergency Medicine, Anaesthetics, Obstetrics, Surgery.
RACGP
CPD Approved Activity under RACGP 2023-25 CPD program. Approved for Educational Activities 3.5 hours, Reviewing Performance 11.5 hours, specific requirements diagnostic radiology, 2 days Anaesthetics, Obstetrics, Surgery and Emergency Medicine training grants. Provider Number 214288, Activity ID 414885.
HOURS
| Theoretical | 4 |
| Practical | 9 |
| Total | 13 |
CATERING
Morning tea, a light lunch and refreshments are provided each day.