Dr. Rafael Blanco is a Consultant Anesthesiologist and Director of the Pain Division at Corniche
Hospital, Abu Dhabi, with 32 years of experience in the field. He is renowned for pioneering
several innovative regional anesthesia techniques, particularly ultrasound-guided nerve blocks.

Global Education & Training
Founder & Honorary President of the London Society of Regional Anaesthesia (LSORA).
Conducted workshops worldwide, training thousands of anesthesiologists. His research and techniques are widely cited in medical literature and incorporated into training programs.

Reducing Opioid Dependence & Enhancing Recovery
Dr. Blanco’s regional anesthesia techniques have contributed to:
Reduced opioid use in post-surgical pain management.
Faster recovery times with fewer side effects (e.g., nausea, respiratory depression).
Improved patient satisfaction and post-operative outcomes.

Contribution to Multimodal Pain Management
His techniques are integrated into Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols, influencing anesthetic guidelines and clinical practice worldwide. Notable contributions include:
Quadratus Lumborum (QL) Block (a.k.a. Blanco Block): First described in 2007 and
later refined into several variants, including QL1 (lateral) and QL2 (posterior).
PECS I (Interpectoral Block) and PECS II (Interpectoral-Pectoserratus Block):
Initially developed for breast surgery and chest wall anesthesia, later adapted to other
subspecialties.
Serratus Anterior Plane (SAP) Block: Designed for rib fractures, thoracic surgeries,
and post-mastectomy pain.
Echo-Enhanced Epidural Needles (Design Contribution: RafaTuohy, Vygon):
Improves visibility of epidural needles under ultrasound guidance, enhancing safety and
precision in epidural anesthesia.

Other Achievements
Advisor to NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) for Great Britain
& Ireland in Pain Medicine.
Author of multiple books, book chapters, research papers, and letters, with numerous
international conference presentations, courses, and workshops in Pain Medicine.
Designer of the first online logbook in anesthesia.
Introduced the use of learning curves as part of accreditation and privileges for
anesthetists and trainees.
Advisor in the design of the first portable ultrasound, Sonosite M-Turbo.

Overall Impact
Dr. Blanco’s groundbreaking contributions have transformed regional anesthesia, significantly
improving patient safety, pain control, and surgical outcomes. His techniques have become
standard practice worldwide, benefiting thousands of patients and reducing opioid dependence.