Regional analgesia for lower leg trauma and the risk of acute compartment syndrome

Tonight’s discussion is all about a new Association of Anaesthetists guideline on regional analgesia for lower leg trauma and the risk of acute compartment syndrome.

Pain resulting from lower leg injuries and consequent surgery can be severe. There is a range of opinion on the use of regional analgesia and its capacity to obscure the symptoms and signs of acute compartment syndrome. There is, however, very little high quality evidence to inform practice. These guidelines were developed, therefore, to provide pragmatic guidance to enable optimal analgesia and to highlight the need for careful observation for acute compartment syndrome in any patient at risk.

With us today to discuss this new paper we have one of the authors, Dr Matt Wiles from Sheffield, who is also an Editor of Anaesthesia. With us also we have Mr Simon Fleming who is a trainee Trauma and Orthopaedic surgeon who has developed a national, and growing international reputation, for his campaigning work to drive cultural change in the NHS and other healthcare organisations. Last but by no means least we have Dr Sally El-Ghazali who is a London based anaesthetist and intensive care doctor, and the immediate past chair of the Association of Anaesthetists Trainee committee