FAQ - ARiRA Online Regional Anaesthesia Course

What is the cost of the course?
The full online ultrasound-guided regional anaesthesia course is £126 for one year of unlimited access. This includes all modules, interactive 3D and AR anatomy, cadaver dissections, ultrasound-guided nerve block tutorials, and a CPD certificate on completion.

How long do I have access to the course?
Your enrolment gives you 12 months of full access from the date of purchase. You can revisit any section anytime to refresh your knowledge and skills.

How do I get my CPD certificate?
As you progress, simply click “Complete Step” after each section. When all course steps are marked complete, your CPD certificate will be automatically generated and emailed to you. No additional application is required.

Is the course CPD accredited?

Yes – ARiRA’s training meets CPD portfolio requirements. On completion, you will receive an ARiRA CPD certificate, which you can attach to your Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA) CPD portfolio together with your reflective learning notes. Your reflection should focus on what you have gained from the activity, how it can be applied to your clinical practice, and any further learning needs. This reflection serves as verification that you have completed the activity and can be discussed during appraisal as part of a balanced portfolio covering different CPD activities.

Can I complete the course at my own pace?
Yes – the programme is fully self-paced, making it ideal alongside clinical duties or study commitments.

What does the course cover?
You will learn:

Clinical indications for nerve blocks
Patient positioning for optimal ergonomics
Augmented surface anatomy and sono-anatomy
3D internal anatomy with interactive rotation
Cadaver Glide-View© for realistic dissection views
Ultrasound probe selection and handling
3D/AR probe positioning for in-plane and out-of-plane approaches
Ultra-Slide© virtual probe control for simulation practice
3D/AR needle insertion techniques
Local anaesthetic spread and distribution patterns
Safety, precautions, and complication management

Which ultrasound-guided nerve blocks are included?
You will gain detailed instruction for over 40 blocks, including:

Head & Neck: Intermediate cervical plexus, suprascapular (anterior/posterior).
Upper Limb: Interscalene, supraclavicular, costo-clavicular, infra-clavicular, axillary, intercostobrachial, superior trunk, musculocutaneous, median, radial, ulnar at various levels
Chest Wall: PECS 1 & 2, serratus plane, erector spinae plane
Abdominal Wall: Rectus sheath, subcostal TAP, lateral TAP, quadratus lumborum, ilio-inguinal/ilio-hypogastric
Lower Limb & Pelvis: Fascia iliaca (supra/infra-inguinal), femoral, lateral femoral cutaneous, adductor canal, genicular, IPACK, popliteal sciatic, posterior tibial, saphenous (ankle), deep peroneal, superficial peroneal, sural

How Each Block is Taught in ARiRA

Each ultrasound-guided nerve block in the course is taught using a structured, multi-layered approach that combines theory, clinical reasoning, and immersive technology. This ensures you not only know what to do, but also why and how to do it safely and effectively.

Indications
Every block begins with a clear, evidence-based explanation of its clinical indications. This includes surgical and analgesic uses, target patient groups, and situations where the block is most beneficial. You will understand why a specific block is chosen over alternatives and learn its perioperative role.

Patient Position
Instead of simply listing positions, we explain the rationale behind each choice — considering ergonomics, safety, and ultrasound access. You will see how patient positioning optimises probe placement, reduces complication risk, and improves needle trajectory.

Augmented Surface Anatomy
Using real patient images overlaid with internal anatomical structures, you will learn to map the sono-anatomy before even touching the probe. This visual link between surface landmarks and deep anatomy greatly improves block accuracy.

3D Internal Anatomy
Unlike static images in textbooks, our rotatable 3D anatomy models allow you to explore structures from all angles. This helps you truly understand spatial relationships — something 2D atlases cannot achieve.

3D/AR Cadaver Glide-View©
Experience cadaver dissections in 3D and augmented reality, directly correlated to sono-anatomy. This gives you the equivalent of a cadaver lab at your desk, helping you mentally link dissection findings to live scanning.

Sono-Anatomy Glide-View©
See high-resolution ultrasound images side-by-side with colour-coded overlays. Use the interactive slider to toggle between real and annotated images, so you can confidently identify nerves, vessels, and fascial planes in live scanning.

Probe Selection
Learn not only which probe to use, but why. We explain how probe frequency, footprint size, and resolution affect image quality for each block — including when to use high-frequency linear vs. low-frequency curvilinear probes.

3D/AR Probe Positioning
Interactive models allow you to view and rotate the probe positioning model. This helps you visualise the in-plane and out-of-plane approaches before you even scan a patient, replicating the kind of close-up demonstrations usually only seen when standing beside an expert in a hands-on course. With ARiRA, that experience is brought directly to you — available anytime, anywhere, and ready to revisit as often as you need to consolidate your skills.

Ultra-Slide© Probe Control

Our exclusive Ultra-Slide© simulation lets you virtually scan by touching and sliding on your screen, with the on-screen probe moving exactly as you do. As you adjust the probe, the ultrasound image shifts in real time, allowing you to see how the underlying sono-anatomy changes before, at, and after the optimal imaging window. This dynamic, hands-on experience helps you master fine probe positioning and movement — skills that are critical for real-world scanning.

3D/AR Needle Insertion
Watch the needle insertion from multiple angles. This section covers in-plane and out-of-plane techniques and safe needle orientation — giving you a virtual rehearsal before clinical application.

Successful Distribution of Local Anaesthetic
Learn how to recognise correct local anaesthetic spread on ultrasound and confirm effective blockade. We explain typical volumes, test dosing, desired sono-appearance, and how to adapt for patient anatomy.

Precautions and Complications
Each block includes a safety-focused section covering ultrasound-guided prevention strategies, incremental dosing, aspiration techniques, patient monitoring, and sterile practice. We also cover block-specific complication risks and how to manage them.

Who is the course designed for?

This course is suitable for anaesthetists, anaesthesia trainees, pain specialists, anaesthesia associates, certified registered nurse anaesthetists (CRNAs), emergency department doctors, and any other healthcare professionals who need to develop or refresh their ultrasound-guided regional anaesthesia and nerve block skills.

Do I need previous ultrasound or nerve block experience?
No – ARiRA caters to all skill levels, from beginners to experienced practitioners.

What makes ARiRA unique?

Created by Dr Arul James, UK consultant anaesthetist and pain specialist
Accessible on mobile, tablet, or desktop — with best experience on laptop/desktop
Combines 3D anatomy, AR, cadaver dissection, and ultrasound imaging for immersive learning
Updated regularly with the latest evidence-based techniques

What is your cancellation policy?
Payments are non-refundable, but you will retain course access for your full 12-month subscription.

How can I get in touch?
Email info@arira.co.uk for support, feedback, or institutional licensing enquiries.