Anesthesiology

In this issue of Anesthesiology, Farag and colleagues report the results of a randomized, blinded comparison of three techniques for ultrasound-guided femoral nerve catheter insertion. In this controlled study of nearly 450 patients, electrical stimulation through the needle or needle and catheter was noninferior to ultrasound guidance alone in terms of pain score and IV opioid requirements; the use of ultrasound alone was both faster and less expensive. (Cover photography/ultrasonography: J.P. Rathmell; cover illustration: A. Johnson, Vivo Visuals.)

• Farag et al.: Comparison of Three Techniques for Ultrasound-guided Femoral Nerve Catheter Insertion: A Randomized, Blinded Trial, p. 239