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Local anaesthesia for venous cannulation and arterial blood gas sampling: are doctors using it?

The pain of venous cannulation and arterial puncture can be greatly lessened by local anaesthesia. We sought information about the use of local anaesthesia for these procedures by doctors working in medicine, surgery and anaesthetics. A questionnaire was hand-delivered to 178 doctors in eight hospitals, all of whom responded. For insertion of large-bore cannulae, local anaesthesia was used by all the anaesthetists but less than half the medical and surgical doctors. For arterial blood sampling it was used by 60% of anaesthetists and 2% of ward doctors. Previous recommendations to use local anaesthesia seem to have been ignored, and in many instances these procedures are more painful than necessary.

Anesthesia, Local↗

Expanding role of local anaesthesia in vitreoretinal surgery.

PURPOSE: Local anaesthesia (LA) is increasingly common in vitreoretinal surgery. However, younger patients often have such surgery under general anaesthesia (GA). We reanalysed the anaesthetic practice for vitreoretinal surgery in our unit over a 19-month period. METHODS: A total of 1003 patients undergoing vitreoretinal surgery between August 2000 and February 2002 were studied. Type of surgery, patient pain score to anaesthesia and surgery, need for sedation and incidence of complications related to the local anaesthetic were recorded. Comparisons were made between this case series and previous data from our unit. RESULTS: In total, 920/1003 (91.7%) patients had LA. Total operations comprised 418 vitrectomies, 518 retinopexies with or without vitrectomy and 67 buckling procedures. More patients under the age of 35 years had LA than previously (60.2 vs 35.7%, P<0.001). In 920/920 (100%) of cases, LA was administered via intraconal injection, compared to 164/1221 (13.4%) of procedures previously. Significantly more patients under the age of 35 years required sedation (35.9%) than did older patients (19.2%). Overall, use of sedation was significantly increased since our previous study (20.2 vs 7.8%). Anaesthesia and surgery were well tolerated by patients. There were no cases of orbital haemorrhage or ocular perforation. Complications included bradycardia requiring atropine 1/920 (0.1%) and chemosis 88/920 (9.6%). CONCLUSIONS: LA is well tolerated and effective even in younger patients. Sedation may well be required in younger patients and for procedures involving scleral buckling. The main indication for GA was patient preference. Despite this, such patients accounted for only 5.2% of the total.

Adolescent↗

Local anaesthesia versus general anaesthesia for cardioverter-defibrillator implantation.

AIMS: Cardioverter-defibrillators are conventionally implanted under general anaesthesia. However, implantation under conscious sedation is being increasingly used. It has been shown that cardioverter-defibrillators can be implanted in a more pacemaker-like approach: under local anaesthesia for the surgical procedure, and with mild sedation for defibrillation threshold testing only. The aim of the present study was to compare local and general anaesthesia in defibrillation threshold testing and implantation of cardioverter-defibrillators. METHODS AND RESULTS: Forty patients were assigned to two groups: in the first 20 consecutive patients the cardioverter-defibrillator was implanted under general anaesthesia (GA), and in the subsequent 20 patients under local anaesthesia (LA). There was no significant difference between the two groups in regard of age, body weight, underlying disease, left ventricular ejection fraction, and NYHA classification. The defibrillation threshold was 13.7 +/- 5.5 J under local anaesthesia versus 10.7 +/- 4.7 J under general anaesthesia (n.s.). For defibrillation threshold testing 7.9 +/- 3.6 shocks had to be applied in patients under general anaesthesia versus 6.2 +/- 1.3 shocks under local anaesthesia (n.s.). Mean heart rate, arterial oxygen saturation and mean arterial blood pressure remained stable throughout defibrillation threshold testing, irrespective of the type of anaesthesia used. The duration of the surgical procedure was 62 +/- 16 min under GA and 60 +/- 14 min under LA (n.s.), however, the entire implantation procedure was significantly longer in patients under general anaesthesia than in those under local anaesthesia (124 +/- 24 min and 97 +/- 22 min, respectively, p < 0.005). There were no complications in either group and the procedure was well tolerated. With the use of local anaesthesia the cost of anaesthesia were reduced by 72%. CONCLUSION: Local anaesthesia in combination with mild sedation is as safe and well tolerated as general anaesthesia in cardioverter-defibrillator implantation. Lidocaine used for local anaesthesia does not adversely affect the defibrillation threshold. Device implantation in a pacemaker-like approach results in a significant reduction in total procedure time and costs, and facilitates scheduling of the procedure.

Anesthesia, General↗

[Sentinel-node biopsy in axillary lymph-node staging under local anaesthesia in breast cancer: technical aspect].

OBJECTIVE: To perform sentinel node with local anaesthesia in the breast carcinoma without frozen section. So we used definitive histological and immunohistochemical results of sentinel node the day of conserving surgery with complete axillary lymph node dissection under general anaesthesia in case of involved nodes. METHODS: Patients with a stage TNM > T1 or N1, a multicentric breast cancer, a neoadjuvant chemotherapy, an allergy, an obesity or no detection of hot sentinel node were excluded. Patients in ambulatory surgery had scintigraphy 3 hours after injection of radiotracer. If we had a hot sentinel node, we applied Emla 5% cream on the areolar and axillary site and gave midazolam. We performed an intradermal injection of 2 ml of xylocaine with adrenaline above cancer and in the subareolar site in case of non-palpable cancer. With the same needle, we injected 2 ml of blue dye. We injected so 2 ml of xylocaine with adrenaline in the axillary hot spot. We completed local anaesthesia with 16 ml of xylocaine with adrenaline step by step on the route that intraoperative gamma probe showed us. RESULTS: We performed 17 patients (52.6 years [38-62]; body mass index = 23.7 [20-34.1], size of tumour = 10.8 mm [1-25]). We detected 100% of sentinel node. We had a secondary haematoma which was evacuated. CONCLUSION: Perform sentinel node under local anaesthesia is possible for patients with no obesity but radio tracer is absolutely necessary.

Adult↗

Removal of selected fracture fixation implants under local anaesthesia.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study was undertaken to evaluate the feasibility and tolerability of fracture fixation implants (FFI) removal under local anaesthesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 176 patients who had osteosynthetic materials inserted for the treatment of fractures and whose implants were removed under local anaesthesia. Pain and tolerance were determined using a pain severity score determined by the patients. About 60% of the implants were Kuntcher nails while 31% were Krischner wires. In 171 (97.2% ) patients the implants were removed under local anaesthesia while in 5 (2.8% ) patients with Kuntcher nails the procedures were difficult and painful which necessitated the use of intravenous ketamine. RESULTS: About 89% of patients felt no pain during the procedures while 8.5% felt mild to moderate pain, which was easily tolerated. CONCLUSION: The use of local anaesthesia for fracture fixation implants removal is recommended because it is simple and safe and reduced the cost and complications of treatment.

Adolescent↗

Day case arthroscopy under local anaesthesia.

A prospective study of the effectiveness of local anaesthesia in arthroscopy of the knee was performed in 212 consecutive patients. Arthroscopic surgery was undertaken successfully in 121 cases (57%), including meniscectomy and drilling of osteochondral defects. Dynamic evaluation of the patellofemoral joint articulation was possible and demonstration of pathological abnormalities was felt to be beneficial by some patients. The method described is safe, reliable, confers good postoperative analgesia and enables physiotherapy to begin immediately. Conversion to general anaesthesia was necessary in one case due to pain localised to a stiff and osteoarthritic hip. Intra-articular haemorrhage was found to be a problem in one case with synovitis. Only ten patients complained of moderate pain, none had severe pain. Local anaesthesia is contraindicated in cases with ipsilateral osteoarthritis of the hip or with significant synovitis of the knee. This technique is particularly suited to day case surgery.

Ambulatory Surgical Procedures↗

Local anaesthesia for middle ear surgery.

Thirty-two consecutive patients undergoing middle ear surgery using local anaesthesia were assessed on the adequacy of anaesthesia for their surgery, both by the patients themselves, and by the surgeon. A method of local anaesthesia is described which includes the possibility of inducing an iatrogenic transient homolateral facial weakness in order to simplify the technique of administration of anaesthesia. Both the surgeon and the patients were happy with the quality of the anaesthesia, and no adverse effects occurred either as a consequence of the local anaesthesia itself, or of the transient facial weakness.

Adult↗

Local anaesthesia in middle ear surgery: survey of patients and surgeons.

The use of local anaesthesia for middle ear surgery is long established and has many advantages. However, it is only performed by a small number of UK otolaryngologists (20%). This lack of enthusiasm is due to concerns that patients may not tolerate the discomfort during the operation. Therefore, a survey was conducted on patients who had middle ear operations: stapedotomy, myringoplasty, ossiculoplasty and mastoidectomy. The intense sensation of noise during the operation (29.6% of patients) and anxiety (24%) were the most common discomforts, followed by dizziness (14.8%), backache (13.9%), claustrophobia (9.3%) and earache (1.9%). In spite of these discomforts, 89% of patients still preferred local anaesthesia to general anaesthesia for a similar procedure. The author suggests that good patient selection, pre-operative explanation and the use of appropriate sedation are the important factors for local anaesthesia ear procedures to be acceptable to patients.

Anesthesia, Local↗

Functional endoscopic sinus surgery under local anaesthesia: possibilities and limitations.

Functional endoscopic sinus surgery under local anaesthesia with one single intramuscular injection of systemic premedication (pethidine and promethazine) and careful local preparation (decongestive nose drops, cocaïne application and lidocaine infiltration). It is well tolerated and accepted in 95% of the patients. Blood loss is minimal and pain during the operation is rare. Major and minor orbital and intracranial complications were not seen. Local anaesthesia with this kind of surgery offers many advantages and is preferable to general anaesthesia when possible.

Adjuvants, Anesthesia↗

Hernia repair in elderly patients under unmonitored local anaesthesia is feasible.

BACKGROUND: There is a growing interest in the use of local anaesthesia for inguinal hernia repair. It certainly seems to be an acceptable alternative for the elderly. Supporting intravenous sedation, however, still requires monitoring, anaesthetic personnel and some preparations for the patient. Therefore we set up a feasibility study of hernia repair under local anaesthesia without intravenous sedation or monitoring in elderly patients. METHOD: A total of 62 patients (aged 65 years or more) with unilateral inguinal hernia received a Mesh Plug Repair. Prospectively collected data included procedure-related complications and information on pain and quality of life as measured by Short Form 36. RESULTS: No procedure-related complications were noted. Comparing the preoperative scores, the SF-36 on day 14 (n=61) did not differ significantly. After a median follow-up of ten months (n=54), significantly higher scores were found for scales of physical and emotional role and pain (all p<0.05). Twenty-two patients reported some form of pain (40.7%). 94.4% of the patients would recommend the procedure when asked. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicated that Mesh Plug Repair performed under unmonitored local anaesthesia with no intravenous sedation is a feasible alternative for elderly patients. It has advantages for the medical organization without disadvantages for the patient.

Aged↗

Postoperative oxygenation in the elderly following general or local anaesthesia for ophthalmic surgery.

Peripheral oxygen saturation was recorded on the pre-operative night (between 2400 and 0600 h), the immediate postoperative period (first 60 min) and the first postoperative night (2400 to 0600 h) in 18 elderly patients aged 70 years or over presenting for elective ophthalmic surgery. Nine patients had surgery performed under general anaesthesia employing muscle relaxants and controlled ventilation and nine under local anaesthesia using a peribulbar block. The median (interquartile range) percentage of time during which the patients had an oxygen saturation of less than 90% was 0 (0-0.2) and 0.04 (0-0.4) on the pre-operative night, 0.7 (0-1.4) and 0.3 (0-1.2) in the immediate postoperative period, and 0.05 (0-0.16) and 0 (0-0.3) on the postoperative night in the general and local anaesthesia patients respectively. There were no significant differences between general and local anaesthesia in respect of these data and the overall incidence of significant desaturation was low. The present study could not demonstrate any adverse effect of general anaesthesia on oxygen saturation in patients undergoing minimally invasive surgery.

Aged↗

Outpatient haemorrhoidectomy under local anaesthesia.

OBJECTIVE: To compare early and late results and costs of outpatient haemorrhoidectomy under local anaesthesia with those of inpatient haemorrhoidectomy. DESIGN: Prospective study with historical controls. SETTING: University hospital, Brazil. SUBJECTS: 51 patients who required haemorrhoidectomy. INTERVENTIONS: Outpatient haemorrhoidectomy under local anaesthesia. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Early and late results and comparative costs. RESULTS: One patient was withdrawn from the study because of hypertension and subsequently lost to follow-up. The remaining 50 patients were discharged a mean of 68 (23) minutes after operation. Twelve patients complained of severe pain, one had faecal impaction and 2 developed bleeding. One patient developed urinary retention, compared with 18 in the historical group (p < 0.001). Forty-two patients (84%) were thoroughly satisfied with their treatment. Late complications did not differ significantly from those observed in the historical group. The estimated hospital costs were US$ 313.6 for outpatient, and US$ 716 for inpatient treatment. CONCLUSION: Outpatient haemorrhoidectomy under local anaesthesia was safe and comfortable for most patients, with complication rates comparable to or better than those observed after inpatient treatment and at less than half the cost.

Adult↗

Contralateral stenosis and stump pressures: parameters to identify the high risk patient undergoing carotid endarterectomy under local anaesthesia.

Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) under local anaesthesia (LA) enables the assessment of the two parameters of stump pressure and contralateral stenosis as predictors of neurological complications both intra- and postoperatively. Over a 7 year period, 175 carotid endarterectomies were performed under LA and of these, stump pressure measurements and angiographic findings were recorded on 99 patients. There were no deaths, two patients (2.0%) suffered a perioperative stroke (CVA) and one (1.0%) a transient ischaemic attack (TIA). An additional eight patients "obtunded" while the internal carotid artery was clamped, with complete resolution upon revascularisation in all but one patient who recovered fully within 24 h. Patients with contralateral occlusion or > or = 80% stenosis were more likely to develop complications (6/25 vs. 5/74 p < 0.03) and stump pressures were significantly lower in patients suffering an event (34.36 +/- 23.15 vs. 55.57 +/- 27.58, p < 0.02). By combining contralateral stenosis (> or = 80%) and stump pressure (< or = 35 mmHg), a "high risk" group of 42 patients in whom eight of the 11 events occurred, were identified. Contralateral stenosis and low stump pressures can be used in combination to identify high risk patients likely to develop neurological complications during or following CEA.

Aged↗

Surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism performed under local anaesthesia.

Patients with primary hyperparathyroidism are often elderly with cardiovascular disease and in some an operation might be hazardous owing to anaesthetic complications. A technique for operation for primary hyperparathyroidism under local anaesthesia is described. The method uses a unilateral approach. Seventeen consecutive patients operated on under local anaesthesia were compared with a group of 15 patients undergoing surgery under general anaesthesia. Normocalcaemia was achieved in 14 patients in each group. There was no difference in the extent of pain or the overall well-being between the two groups as determined by a visual analogue scale. Patients receiving local anaesthesia, however, experienced significantly less nausea after operation (P < 0.01). There was more fluctuation in blood pressure and heart rate in the general anaesthesia group compared with the other group. Surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism can be performed safely under local anaesthesia, and could be offered to patients if general anaesthesia were not suitable or involved an increased perioperative risk. It should not be recommended for routine use in patients who are fit for general anaesthesia.

Adenoma↗

Transurethral incisions of the prostate under local anaesthesia in high-risk patients: a pilot study.

Transurethral incision of the prostate under local anaesthesia was performed in 27 patients with symptoms of infravesical obstruction and an estimated prostatic weight of 20 g or less. Local anaesthesia (lidocaine 1%) was infiltrated transurethrally under the urethral prostatic mucosa using a special needle adaptable to the resectoscope. Pain control, assessed with a scoring system, was judged as good or very good by the majority of patients (25) and fair by the remaining 2 patients. No patient required conversion to another type of anaesthesia. The results of surgery as estimated by symptom score, uroflowmetry, and patients' personal evaluation were good. Transurethral incision of the prostate can be satisfactorily performed under local anaesthesia; this may be especially applicable to high-risk surgical patients. Incision of the prostate in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia may be performed as an outpatient procedure in selected cases.

Aged↗

Detection of the sentinel lymph node under local anaesthesia in early-stage breast cancer: feasibility study in a series of 78 unselected patients.

AIMS: To evaluate the feasibility of excision of the sentinel lymph node under local anaesthesia in early-stage breast cancer. METHODS: Sentinel lymph node detection under local anaesthesia was carried out on all patients presenting with breast cancer at Stage T0, T1 or T2 < 3 cm and N0, M0. The lymph node was mapped using a radioisotope and patent blue dye and lymphoscintigraphy was routinely performed. No premedication was given, and local anaesthesia was carried out with xylocaine. The patients underwent tumorectomy one week later under general anaesthesia, with or without complete axillary dissection, depending on the results of the definitive histopathological examination of the sentinel lymph node. RESULTS: 78 patients underwent this procedure over a period of 20 months. The procedure was successful in 76 out of the 78 patients, with one failure in mapping and one failure in detection (detection rate = 97.4%). The mean time to detection was 21 min (range: 6-45). It was unnecessary to interrupt the procedure due to patient discomfort in any of the cases. One allergic reaction to patent blue dye was noted and required corticosteroid therapy without interruption of the procedure. The time to detection was correlated with the experience of the surgeon carrying of the procedure, the patient's body mass index and the number of labelled lymph nodes found at lymphoscintigraphy. CONCLUSION: We have shown that it is feasible to detect the sentinel lymph node under local anaesthesia in an unselected population. Using this procedure, patients can undergo surgery with the knowledge of their axillary lymph node status while at the same time avoiding the uncertainties of an intraoperative examination of the sentinel lymph node--a source of many false negatives, particularly in the event of micrometastases.

Anesthesia, Local↗

Ambulatory circular stapled haemorrhoidectomy under local anaesthesia versus circular stapled haemorrhoidectomy under regional anaesthesia.

BACKGROUND: The usage of circular stapled haemorrhoidectomy (CSH) has increased dramatically in recent years. Hitherto this has been performed using regional or general anaesthesia. The present study assesses the feasibility of performing CSH under local anaesthesia on an ambulatory basis and its acceptance by patients. METHODS: Sixty patients with symptomatic third or fourth degree haemorrhoids were randomized into two groups. Group A patients had CSH under regional anaesthesia (i.e spinal anaesthesia) and were discharged the next day and group B patients had CSH under local anaesthesia and were discharged on the same admission day. Both groups were assessed by visual analogue pain score. In addition, group B patients were asked questions regarding their satisfaction with the procedure. RESULTS: No significant differences in pain score and analgesic requirement were found between the two groups of patients. All patients in group B except for one, reported that they were satisfied to highly satisfied with their procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Circular stapled haemorrhoidectomy can be performed safely under local anaesthesia in an ambulatory care setting. The potential cost savings that may accrue would offset the cost of the stapler.

Adolescent↗