Interview with Ehab Farag, MD, FRCA, FASA

How has Brown’s Atlas of Regional Anesthesia, 7th Edition evolved since the previous edition? How has it evolved since the first edition?   

We created 14 new chapters just for this edition. Readers will learn new content on the blocks for the upper airway, dental blocks, blocks for spine surgery, and much more. Additionally, we created 32 new, original tutorial videos that explain the blocks step-by-step for physicians. Very few books of this nature contain the multimedia content that we have been able to provide. The atlas has grown tremendously in depth of content since our first edition. The first edition was a strong foundation for our future work, but the current edition is the most comprehensive and functional guide for regional anesthesia.

What is the most exciting aspect of Brown’s Atlas of Regional Anesthesia, 7th Edition? What chapter or topic covered in the new edition are you most excited about?  

We’re very excited about the new chapters describing the use of ultrasound for upper airway blocks, regional anesthesia for dental procedures, and the revamped regional anatomy sections. I was very happy to work with Richard L. Drake, Editor of Gray’s Anatomy for Students, to enrich the anatomy content for this edition.

Who will find the greatest value from Brown’s Atlas of Regional Anesthesia, 7th Edition and why? Has the audience changed since the book was first published? 

Brown’s Atlas of Regional Anesthesia is suitable for physicians at all stages of their career, from the novice resident just learning the techniques of regional anesthesia to experienced clinicians looking for a comprehensive refresher guide to the craft. In short, this atlas is appropriate for everyone in the field of regional anesthesia who is looking to master regional blocks. This audience was always the aim for Brown’s Atlas of Regional Anesthesia, but now with our multimedia content and more thorough chapters, the barrier to entry is even lower.

What new ideas, practices, or procedures would you like to highlight for the new edition?  

I am very happy with the new chapters using ultrasound for upper airway blocks, regional anesthesia for dental procedures, and the revamped regional anatomy sections. I am also proud of the enhanced multimedia library for this edition, which includes over 30 new-to-this-edition tutorial videos.

What problem do you hope the future generation of your specialty will be able to solve? 

I believe it is imperative for anesthesiologists to master the use of ultrasound for regional blocks. Many people shy away from using this invaluable tool due to lack of familiarity, so with this reference guide there’s no reason not to utilize it anymore.

Is there anything else about the book you’d like to say?

This edition took hundreds of hours of work from more than fifty authors because we believe how important this project is for the field of regional anesthesia. We believe this is the best edition to date and hope our readers appreciate the care taken for such a vast topic.

About the Editor

Ehab Farag, MD, FRCA, FASA is a Professor of Anesthesiology at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and a Staff Anesthesiologist in the Department of Anesthesia at the Cleveland Clinic. He grew up in Cairo, Egypt and went to medical school in Cairo. He later completed his neuroanesthesia fellowship at the Royal College of Anesthetists in the United Kingdom. After fellowship, he moved to the United States and completed residency and fellowship training at the Cleveland Clinic. He have been at the Cleveland Clinic for the last 25 years.

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