Is neurostimulation in regional anesthesia still worth knowing?

Neurostimulation has been one of the most significant advances in the field of regional anesthesia. Knowledge of its technical details is still growing, and new clinical and research work on the subject is continually being published. The introduction of ultrasonography as an instrument for identifying peripheral nerves has been a true revolution and seems to be competing with neurostimulation. Most of the articles on the subject compare these 2 location methods; however they are compatible with and complementary of each other. There is some controversy about the advantages of combining both methods, and further trials are required to determine those advantages. Safety, however, increases when more than 1 system is involved. The financial cost is not high and could be absorbed if its benefits are proven. This article reviews the bases of neurostimulation and proposes new ways of using it, based both on the clinical practice and on the latest research published.