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REGIONAL ANESTHESIA 101: BLOCKS EVERY CRNA SHOULD KNOW │ EP107

August 13, 2026 · 15 min

Show notes

Regional anesthesia is one of the highest-yield, most heavily tested areas on the boards, but most review content buries the clinically useful details under anatomy that never gets asked. This episode breaks down the brachial plexus approaches boards actually tests, the truncal and lower extremity blocks showing up in modern multimodal protocols, and the complication patterns examiners use as answer traps.

In this episode:

  • The four brachial plexus approaches and why phrenic nerve risk drops as you move from interscalene to axillary
  • Why adductor canal block has replaced femoral nerve block for TKA, and the volume myths that trip up test-takers
  • The LAST risk hierarchy by injection site, and the Exparel interaction rules boards loves to test

FREE RESOURCES:

SEE/NCE Study Plan — A structured, week-by-week plan to pass your boards

GPCR Cheat Sheet — G-protein coupled receptors decoded for anesthesia.

Non-Opioid Pharmacology Cheat Sheet — Every non-opioid analgesic you need to know, on one page

Malignant Hyperthermia Reference Guide — Recognize MH fast. Treat it faster — one-page reference

WANT THE FULL PLATFORM?

Atomic Anesthesia is the all-in-one study platform built specifically for SRNAs — lessons, quizzes, flashcards, and more. Start your free trial at atomicanesthesia.com.

Mentioned in this episode:

💜 PARTNERS: The Incomologists®

https://theincomologists.com/ You work hard caring for others—let us take care of you. Whether you’re a W-2 employee or transitioning to a 1099 role, we understand the unique challenges healthcare professionals face, from insurance coverage to financial planning. That’s where we step in. Like you, we are a team of healthcare providers who understand your needs and help you find tailored insurance plans and financial strategies without the hassle or pressure. And we’re a partner you can rely on, today and in the future. We evaluate all available options and resources in the market to protect our clients, so contact us, and we’ll get started! - Jake Bevilacqua, CRNA ([email protected])

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