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AS5.{1-3,5-6} | Regional Anaesthesia — Assignment

Instructions

1. Read the assigned surgical scenario carefully (see Scaffolding section below for the three scenario options — your tutorial coordinator will assign one).
2. State your chosen primary regional technique and write one paragraph justifying your choice against the indications for regional anaesthesia (AS5.1). Explicitly address any patient-specific factors that favour or argue against regional vs general anaesthesia.
3. Draw and annotate the relevant anatomy for your chosen block. For neuraxial techniques, describe the layers traversed from skin to the target space. For brachial plexus blocks, trace the plexus from roots to the relevant terminal branches. Label the anatomical structure(s) that serve as the landmark for needle placement (AS5.2).
4. Calculate the maximum safe dose of your chosen local anaesthetic for the patient's weight, stating the mg/kg limit plainly (with and without adrenaline if relevant). Then specify the actual volume and concentration you would use and confirm it is within safe limits (AS5.3/AS5.6).
5. Describe the technique step-by-step: patient position, landmark identification, needle approach, endpoint of injection, and how you would confirm correct placement before injecting the full dose (AS5.3/AS5.5/AS5.6).
6. List THREE potential complications of your chosen block and for each: (a) explain the mechanism, (b) describe the clinical signs, and (c) state the immediate management.
7. Write a brief (100–150 word) self-reflection: what aspects of this block would you want to observe in a supervised clinical setting, and what would you specifically watch for to confirm the block is working?

Length: 700–1000 words of prose (excluding diagram labels and calculations)

Grading Rubric — Regional Anaesthesia Assignment Rubric

Criterion	Points	Full-marks descriptor
Technique selection and clinical justification: Is the chosen technique appropriate for the scenario? Does the student correctly identify the indications and patient-specific factors supporting the choice?	20 pts	Technique is clearly the best or a highly appropriate choice; all major indications cited correctly with patient-specific reasoning; contraindications correctly addressed.
Anatomical accuracy: Is the relevant anatomy described correctly, with accurate identification of key landmarks, layers, and neighbouring structures?	20 pts	Anatomy is accurate, complete, and clinically oriented; landmark structures are named correctly; needle path or plexus organisation is correctly described.
Local anaesthetic dose calculation: Is the LA correctly identified, the dose limit correctly stated (mg/kg, plain and/or with adrenaline), and the actual dose confirmed safe?	20 pts	Correct LA selected; mg/kg limit stated accurately for plain and/or adrenaline formulation; actual volume/concentration calculated correctly and confirmed within limit.
Complication recognition and management: Are three clinically relevant complications identified, explained mechanistically, and managed correctly?	20 pts	Three clinically relevant complications named; mechanism of each explained accurately; management is correct and specific (e.g., 20% intralipid for LAST, ephedrine/phenylephrine for spinal hypotension, IV fluids).
Clinical reasoning and self-reflection: Does the student demonstrate integrative understanding beyond recall, including insight into supervised observation goals and how to confirm block success?	20 pts	Self-reflection is specific, clinically grounded, and demonstrates understanding of what to observe (e.g., specific sensory dermatomes to test, motor endpoints to assess, timing of onset); integrative reasoning is evident throughout.