Ultrasound-guided lumbar central neuraxial block

• Ultrasound-assisted neuraxial block is an advanced technique for use in patients with difficult spinal anatomy. • The use of a pre-procedural scan improves the tech-nical efficiency of central neuraxial block (CNB) by facilitating precise identification of underlying ana-tomical structures. • The risk of traumatic or failed lumbar CNB may be reduced by the use of neuraxial ultrasound. • Detailed knowledge of lumbar spinal anatomy and sonoanatomy is essential for interpretation of neur-axial ultrasound images. • Practitioners should familiarize themselves with ultrasound-assisted neuraxial block in normal indi-viduals before attempting it in patients with diffi