

Block It Like It’s Hot: Regional Anesthesia, Pain Medicine & POCUS
Jeff Gadsden & Amit Pawa
Your hosts Amit ”I Got The” Pawa and Jeff “Tha Notorious JCG” Gadsden discuss current issues in regional anesthesia, ultrasound-guided nerve blocks, pain medicine and POCUS, while dropping some tips on how to make your regional anesthesia workflow a blocker’s delight. Each episode dives into clinical pearls, emerging research, and practical POCUS tips (along with a lot of banter and dad jokes). Ideal for anesthesiologists, pain physicians, CRNAs, and trainees—subscribe and level up your perioperative or ICU practice.
Episodes
Mentioned books

6 snips
Mar 14, 2025 • 52min
S3:E3 "Somebody call 911! Nerve blocks in the ER 🚨"
Join Dr. Arun Nagdev, an emergency physician and ultrasound education leader, and Dr. Andrew Goldsmith, a prominent figure in emergency ultrasound, as they delve into the transformative impact of ultrasound-guided nerve blocks in the ER. They discuss immediate patient relief, the challenges of adopting these techniques, and the growing interest in hands-on training across emergency departments. Learn about innovative educational initiatives like 'Blockheads,' and hear about their latest findings on safety and efficacy from a national registry. Plus, expect some lighthearted jokes!

24 snips
Feb 15, 2025 • 52min
S3:E2 "Paravertebral: The King of Nerve Blocks 🤴 (Part 2)"
Dive into the world of paravertebral blocks as hosts dissect needle trajectories and probe positioning. Discover the quirks of Pawa's Pleural Groan and the debate over single versus multi-level strategies. They explore the risks of pneumothorax, especially in anticoagulated patients. With practical tips on ultrasound visualization and hydrolocation techniques, they'll have you laughing while learning about sympathetic blockade and the exciting renaissance of paravertebral techniques. Jokes sprinkled throughout keep the conversation lively!

12 snips
Jan 15, 2025 • 49min
S3:E1 "Paravertebral: The King of Nerve Blocks 👑 (Part I)"
Amit and Jeff dive into the fascinating world of paravertebral blocks, sharing their personal journeys and memorable first experiences with this technique. They explore its historical decline and resurgence, fueled by the rise of ultrasound technology. With a touch of humor, they discuss common clinical indications, probe selection, and patient positioning challenges. Listeners will appreciate practical tips on monitoring and needle techniques, all while enjoying the hosts' lighthearted banter and engaging anecdotes.

Dec 15, 2024 • 1h 16min
S2:E12 "Season 2 Holiday Special! 🎄 (Where we discuss compartment syndrome, nerve injury, rebound pain and more!)"
Grab an eggnog & a mince pie or two and join Amit and Jeff for a frosty and festive finale to Season 2, featuring answers to some listener questions and a joyful round of dad jokes!
Links to things discussed:
University of Florida study on intercostobrachial nerve block: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35308761/
Good paper explaining how regional anesthesia does NOT block ischemic pain: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24102987/
Puzzling paper attributing acute compartment syndrome after tibial shaft fracture to a femoral nerve block: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8636198/
RAUK algorithm for managing nerve injury: https://www.ra-uk.org/index.php/12-guidelines/266-ra-uk-algorithm-for-management-of-nerve-injury-associated-with-regional-anaesthesia
Sternal hematoma block with catheter: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16988309/
Paper on rebound pain (it's not a thing btw): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33390261/
Join us each month for another sassy conversation about anesthesiology, emergency medicine, critical care, POCUS, pain medicine, ultrasound guided nerve blocks, acute pain, and perioperative care!

Nov 15, 2024 • 33min
S2:E11 "Block it Like It's Hot Down Under Part II: Social Media and Medicine"
In this engaging conclusion of our two-parter, we continue to share some laughs with the amazing Tanya Selak while discussing the value of SoMe collaboration, how to set boundaries when things get rough, and why she's NOT quitting Twitter (X) quite yet. In the meantime, Amit quotes Vanilla Ice, while Tanya seeks redemption as she gets another shot at the Dad-joke title.
Join us each month for another sassy conversation about anesthesiology, emergency medicine, critical care, POCUS, pain medicine, ultrasound guided nerve blocks, acute pain, and perioperative care!

Nov 2, 2024 • 3min
S2:E10 "BONUS 'Episode': How You Gonna Block It? Rap Song"
Dope beats & phat lyrics...just two audacious dad MCs sharing the podcast origin story over some laid back West-coast flow.

Oct 15, 2024 • 50min
S2:E9 "Block it Like It's Hot Down Under Part I: Two Regional Anesthesia Tragics and a Social Media Queen"
Amit and Jeff welcome special guest Tanya Selak from Wooleng....Woolloongo....from Australia. Tanya shares her ideas on the role of regional anesthesia in contemporary practice, how and who we should be training procedural skills in anesthesia, and possibly wins the joke-off with the lads.
Join us each month for another sassy conversation about anesthesiology, emergency medicine, critical care, POCUS, pain medicine, ultrasound guided nerve blocks, acute pain, and perioperative care!

12 snips
Sep 15, 2024 • 52min
S2:E8 "Keep It On the QL: The Secrets of Abdominal Wall Blocks (Part III)"
In this engaging discussion, Amit, who specializes in ESP techniques, and Jeff, a creator of instructional content on QL block procedures, explore the intricacies of quadratus lumborum blocks. They unpack the intriguing differences between QL 1, 2, and 3, and even introduce the whimsical concept of a "Tequila block." With a mix of medical insights and humor, they also share lighthearted travel tales and dad jokes, making serious topics more relatable and entertaining.

17 snips
Aug 15, 2024 • 1h 3min
S2:E7 :Summer Regional Anesthesia Controversy Spectacular!"
Join two lively hosts as they tackle intriguing medical controversies, like the pros and cons of mixing local anesthetics and the heated 'tucked vs untucked' scrub debate. They explore the challenges of performing nerve blocks on patients, whether awake or asleep, while balancing humor with technical insights. Discover the evolution of language with a generational twist and the adrenaline-fueled life of healthcare professionals. A heartfelt story and discussions on infection control add a delightful touch to this deep dive into the complexities of anesthesia and medical practices.

11 snips
Jul 15, 2024 • 45min
S2:E6 "It's Crunch Time: Abdominal Wall Blocks Part II"
Join the hosts as they dive into belly blocks, including external oblique intercostal and rectus sheath blocks. They discuss surgeon attitudes towards regional anesthesia, share a good salmon recipe, and explore advanced techniques for optimizing pain management in abdominal blocks.


