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Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia Helping to Tackle Opioid Abuse with 'Nerve Block' TrainingFor years medical experts have been scrambling to combat the opioid epidemic, especially in Tennessee. Now there's a new weapon in their arsenal that gives patients a better way to treat pain after surgery without prescription narcotics and the addiction risk they present. It's called ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia (USGRA), which creates a "nerve block." And new efforts are underway to make it more widely available throughout Middle Tennessee, the region and nation. A nerve block uses local anesthetics to numb a specific area of the body before, during and after surgery, which effectively "blocks" pain signals from ever reaching the brain for the duration of the treatment. Often, the patient can take medications such as Tylenol or ibuprofen rather than opioids soon after surgery. "Nerve blocks aren't new, but we now have technology that makes them much safer, more effective and viable for a broader range of procedures than ever before," said Dr. Chris Hulin, President of Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia (MTSA), where nurse anesthesia students are learning the technique. "Although there are safe uses for opioid medications, addiction can start with the first dose," Hulin said. "So, if a patient never has to take an opioid, there's zero chance of abuse. That's why this method of blocking pain at the source is a game-changer. And it's a major reason why we're educating nurse anesthetists about the procedure's benefits and its implementation in the operating room." Ultrasound technology is the critical element in making the treatment more viable, providing visual guidance to pinpoint where the local anesthetic shold be administered. Prior to USGRA, anesthesia providers had to rely solely on less accurate techniques, such as nerve stimulation. In one of the most innovative developments in nerve blocking treatment, anesthetics can be administered through a pump and catheter at home, providing continuous pain management for several days following surgery. Therefore, the body has several days to recover from the surgery, allowing less potent medications to be used to manage the pain as local anesthetic treatment is completed. "One of the challenges we face is that not enough certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) are practicing USGRA," Hulin said. "At MTSA, we're trying to change that by providing the training needed to make this treatment option more readily available. We believe it will have a significant impact on nurse anesthesia practice and patient access to this type of care, which would reduce the reliance on opioids for surgical pain." About MTSA's Program At MTSA's nationally recognized USGRA Center of Excellence, nurse anesthetists are taught how to safely perform USGRA in a variety of medical settings. MTSA offers a robust slate of clinical rotations, which allows students hands-on experience prior to completing the program. As an introduction to gross anatomy, MTSA students participate in cadaver lab training. Next, their coursework focuses on spinal and epidural anesthesia, peripheral nerve blocks, and ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia procedures. In addition to being required to demonstrate safe practice via simulation, students undergo a comprehensive hands-on final exam where they are assigned procedures that stimulate critical thinking. This type of educational experience allows students to more safely perform USGRA procedures when exposed to real-life clinical settings. About Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia Founded in 1950, Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia (MTSA) provides graduate-level education and training of nurse anesthetists in a Christian environment born of its Seventh-day Adventist heritage. MTSA is the only independent, fully accredited anesthesia institution of its kind in the nation, instilling excellence through innovative and diverse clinical experience. More than two-thirds of Middle Tennesseans having surgery entrust their lives to its graduates on a daily basis. A leader in academic, clinical and professional distinction, MTSA is responsive to the needs of its constituents, providing affordable graduate education for students from diverse backgrounds. For more information, visit www.mtsa.edu or call (888) 353-MTSA.
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