Mr. Dusenberg assured the reader that spinal anesthesia is a safe option for knee replacement surgery. He explained the difference between general and regional anesthesia: While regional anesthesia provides pain relief to a large area of the body through the injection of medication close to related nerves, general anesthesia produces a state of unconsciousness where the patient remains asleep.
He said spinal anesthesia is a commonly used and safe alternative to general anesthesia and added that spinal anesthesia has some distinct advantages over general anesthesia. For example, patients are less likely to experience post-operative nausea and vomiting, and the anesthesia recovery period is generally more pleasant.
He said the overall risk of a spinal anesthetic is somewhere between 1 and 3 percent, depending on the research.
Read the HRTNews report on spinal anesthesia.
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ASA: Anesthesiologists Should Host Site Visits for Lawmakers
At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.
