Specialized Fields and Strengths

• Spinal and Epidural Anesthesia

  Spinal and epidural anesthesia are the most representative techniques of regional anesthesia. Spinal anesthesia provides rapid and reliable anesthetic effects and is widely used for surgeries involving the lower abdomen and lower extremities. Epidural anesthesia, which allows continuous drug infusion through a catheter, is particularly effective for prolonged surgical procedures and postoperative pain control. At Asan Medical Center, both techniques are performed based on extensive clinical experience and the latest pharmacologic strategies, ensuring optimal safety and efficiency.

• Peripheral Nerve Blocks

  Peripheral nerve blocks are actively performed for specific regions such as the shoulder, arm, and leg. In particular, performing procedures under real-time ultrasound guidance enhances accuracy and safety, and the placement of postoperative catheters allows for continuous pain management. This approach minimizes the use of opioid analgesics and significantly improves recovery speed and patient satisfaction.

• ERAS and Personalized Anesthesia Strategies

  Regional anesthesia plays a key role in Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) programs, contributing to shorter hospital stays and higher patient satisfaction through effective pain control, early ambulation, preservation of pulmonary and gastrointestinal function, and reduced postoperative complications. The Regional Anesthesia Team at Asan Medical Center develops and applies personalized anesthetic strategies tailored to each patient’s condition and surgical type, ensuring safe and efficient recovery.

  At Asan Medical Center, approximately 3,500 to 4,000 orthopedic surgeries are performed under regional anesthesia each year. Among these cases, about 40% use general anesthesia alone, 30% use regional anesthesia alone, and the remaining 30% combine both techniques. The application of regional anesthesia has been steadily expanding to pediatric patients and a broader range of surgical procedures, with continuous postoperative analgesic infusions via catheters providing stable and effective pain control.

  The Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine at Asan Medical Center performs most regional anesthesia procedures under real-time ultrasound guidance by anesthesiologists with extensive expertise in this field, who directly perform or supervise all procedures. These high-precision, safety-focused techniques maximize patients’ functional recovery and overall treatment outcomes through close collaboration with dedicated medical teams before and after surgery.

Research and Policy Activities

The Regional Anesthesia Team focuses its research on postoperative pain management using ultrasound-guided nerve blocks, conducting extensive clinical studies that include both adult and pediatric patients. Multiple studies validating the efficacy and safety of pain relief techniques for shoulder, knee, ankle, thoracic, and abdominal surgeries have been published in domestic and international journals.

The team plans to expand its research on various ultrasound-guided blocks with the goals of reducing opioid use, enhancing recovery, and preventing complications, ultimately contributing to the national standardization of ERAS programs.

Education and Collaboration

The Regional Anesthesia Team provides structured training programs for residents, fellows, and nurses to develop proficiency in ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia techniques. Regular simulation-based and hands-on workshops are held to help young anesthesiologists master the latest procedures and refine their technical skills.

The team is also actively engaged in domestic and international academic societies and conferences, while expanding its scholarly network through collaborative research and advisory activities with other hospitals and institutions.

Vision

The Regional Anesthesia Team leads patient-centered postoperative pain management and recovery enhancement through precision, ultrasound-guided techniques. The team will continue to expand clinical research in both adult and pediatric patients to establish safe and efficient standards for regional anesthesia and to further strengthen its academic leadership, both domestically and internationally, as a core component of the ERAS program.