Regional anaesthetic techniques are very successful in providing surgical anaesthesia and postoperative analgesia. New developments in this area are discussed in terms of their impact on the anaesthetist’s daily practice. A summary report of the key studies published over the last 12 months in the leading journals is presented. Author also notes achievements in regional anaesthesia in the Czech Republic.

        Key words: regional anaesthesia – postoperative analgesia – peripheral nerve blocks – spinal anaesthesia – complications of regional anaesthesia