RA UK Project Grant
The successful applicant for the RA UK Project Grant was:
Principal Applicant
Dr Shilpa Munirama
SpR7 Anaesthesia & Postgraduate MD student, University of Dundee
Title
Development of a model of subperineural injection during ultrasound guided regional anaesthesia
Amount
£10,000
Scientific Abstract
B-Mode ultrasound has improved the efficacy of regional anaesthesia by allowing direct vision of needle/tissue interaction. However, nerve damage still occurs, probably due to intrafascicular (subperineurial) injection. Clinical tests of needle tip position, such as electrical nerve stimulation are not diagnostic of intraneural placement, and there is a clinical need for more accurate needle guidance technology.
Beforehand, however, we need to design and validate a new dynamic model of subperinurial injection. Therefore, our aim is to scan isolated Thiel embalmed human cadaver nerves using micro-ultrasound at a frequency of 40 MHz, corresponding to optimal resolution below 37.5 um. The sequence of the study will be to: (1) describe the morphology of peripheral nerves using high resolution ultrasound and validate it with histology sections; and (2) observe tissue changes with subperineurial and subepineurial needle placement, needle withdrawal and injection of fluid. This will provide the platform for future isolated nerve studies in regional anaesthesia. As the terminology of 'intraneural' injection may be confusing, we have used the anatomical terms subperineurial and subepineurial throughout.
First year report from Dr S Munirama & Dr G Mcleod (302 KB)
Final report from Prof G McLeod.pdf (243 KB)
