June 13 , 2006

 

The June 13 edition of the Wall Street Journal features an article by Robert McGough, “Pain Pump Tested in Battle,” featuring ASA members Lt. Col. Chester Buckenmaier, M.D. and Kevin Sanborn, M.D.

The article describes how Lt. Col. Buckenmaier, an Army anesthesiologist, brought infusion pumps into the field when he was deployed to Iraq three years ago. These devices, used to administer nerve blocks, brought pain relief to soldiers with terrible wounds as they were being evacuated from the field and transported to distant medical centers. This led to a temporary contract with the pump’s manufacturer to supply its device to the military.

Dr. Sanborn is quoted in the article because of his special expertise in using nerve blocks for regional anesthesia. The article mentions that physicians specializing in regional anesthesia have been doing nerve blocks for years, but there are additional benefits to the kind of continuous peripheral nerve block that infusion pumps can deliver. It also discusses the fact that specially-trained anesthesiologists are needed to perform these continuous nerve blocks because of the delicacy of the procedure.

For more information about advances in battlefield pain control by anesthesiologists, see the March ASA NEWSLETTER at

http://www.asahq.org/Newsletters/2006/03-06/croll03_06.html