 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Arthritis / February 2006Why General Anaesthesia For Partial Meniscectomy?
It was surprising to learn that general is the preferred choice, although local or regional are used also for this arthroscopic procedure, which entails the shaving of loose cartilage from the knee joint. Asking the surgeon is like talking to the wall. He mumbled something about having to use a tourniquet. Anyway, does anyone know why general anaesthesia is preferred? > It was surprising to learn that general is the preferred choice, > although local or regional are used also for this arthroscopic [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Asking the surgeon is like talking to the wall. He mumbled something > about having to use a tourniquet. Ask the anesthesiologist instead. > Anyway, does anyone know why general anaesthesia is preferred? I don't know that any type of anesthesia is mandated for most procedures. It's a choice of the anesthesiologist in cooperation with the surgeon or surgical team and (sometimes) the patient.  SignatureTranspose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail. because it hurts?? had one last year...excellent anesthesia guy...was under for less than an hour..and woke up instantly once the med was stopped...best general anesthesia experience I have ever had..and have had many no post op nausea...they filled the joint with lidocaine,,so post op pain was minimal for the first 12 hours as well... having seen arthroscopies on the health channel...ain't no way anyone would stick that scope into my knee if I was awake... > It was surprising to learn that general is the preferred choice, > although local or regional are used also for this arthroscopic [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Anyway, does anyone know why general anaesthesia is preferred? > It was surprising to learn that general is the preferred choice, > although local or regional are used also for this arthroscopic [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Anyway, does anyone know why general anaesthesia is preferred? A simple arthroscopic meniscectomy is a short case, and having good relaxation is important. Spinal or epidural can be used, but really, that's more complicated and the PACU recovery is much slower. A femoral-sciatic block can be used, but is a little tricky, and if it doesn't work then you end up with general anesthesia anyway. Local anesthetic can also be used, but the same thing applies. Anything that doesn't uniformly allow complete patient cooperation and muscle relaxation makes the operation more difficult and take longer. Bottom line, that operation under local or regional anesthesia is no safer, no cheaper, and recovery is not uniformly quicker. With general anesthesia, the hassles to the patient and to the surgeon are less and patient acceptance is better. HMc >> It was surprising to learn that general is the preferred choice, >> although local or regional are used also for this arthroscopic [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > HMc And according to two knee specialists I've seen - the outcome is better. To maneuver around the joint with the scopes and miniaturized instruments is pretty tricky. I've been told it's easier to reach things when the joint is fully relaxed. Spinal anesthesia will do the same thing. But most others still allow for the patient's resistance and anticipation to maintain some level of tension in the joint. Adelle Hmmmm................I wonder if this practice of general anesththesia for arthroscopic procedures is a regional thing? This is not at all the general practice here in this area! Most arthroscopic surgeries, especially of the knee, are usually done under spinal anesthesia with a mild sedative given as well in the IV. Have never heard of anyone really having any trouble with this method and recovery times seem to be just as quick. In fact, I have had 3 arthroscopic surgeries done between both of my knees and I do much much better not having to come out of general anesthesia. Much quicker, no nausea, and none of that drugged up feeling for a couple of days. It is pretty rare in this area to find a doctor willing to take the risk of general anesthesia for what is considered a relatively minor procedure. Unless the patient is just too freaked out and won't be able to handle lying still, general anesthesia is just not used. Most patients do just fine with the sedative and the spinal anesthesia. Do you mind if I ask where you live? What state or part of the country? Donna G > Hmmmm................I wonder if this practice of general anesththesia > for arthroscopic procedures is a regional thing? [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > Donna G Massachusetts, though I had my knee surgery at Johns Hopkins in Maryland. But my wrist surgeon up here mentioned that 'unlike knee surgery, where the joint has to be completely tension free, the wrist can be done [arthroscopically] with a local,' if I wanted. Adelle > Anyway, does anyone know why general anaesthesia is preferred? i second the idea of asking the anesthesiologist. i know there can be underlying reasons. they did general for my thumb synovectomy, rather to my surprise. surgeon said the thumb is really hard to numb up via other methods for some reason. bummer though, i hate that anesthesia hangover that follows general. (ya know, i never planned to be comparing my experiences under anesthesia this way before i even hit 50!) SignatureNann remove the Gator cheer to email me Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare I recently had this procedure on my left knee. The surgeon wanted general anesthesia, but I didn't want it! I told him that about a year earlier I had experienced trauma surgery with nerve blocks because the doctors had a lot of trouble intubating me. The day of my knee surgery, my surgeon and my anesthesiologist came and talked to me about my history and did a physical exam. The consulted and agreed to not intubate me. They did the surgery with iv drugs - versed and some other stuff - with no problem. The surgeon said he preferred general because of the total relaxation - it made it easier for him to move my leg around as needed. > It was surprising to learn that general is the preferred choice, > although local or regional are used also for this arthroscopic [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Anyway, does anyone know why general anaesthesia is preferred? >I recently had this procedure on my left knee. The surgeon wanted general >anesthesia, but I didn't want it! I told him that about a year earlier I [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > because of the total relaxation - it made it easier for him to move my leg > around as needed. It sounds like you HAD general anesthesia, no doubt done with some auxilliary method of airway protection, probably an LMA. HMc Nope - nothing in my mouth or throat. Just IV sedation. I've had similar sedation for oral surgery. >>I recently had this procedure on my left knee. The surgeon wanted general >>anesthesia, but I didn't want it! I told him that about a year earlier I [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > HMc > It was surprising to learn that general is the preferred choice, > although local or regional are used also for this arthroscopic [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Anyway, does anyone know why general anaesthesia is preferred? i've had three arthocopic surgeries on both knees and all were done via local with mild iv sedation. i was awake throught all three surgeries. my surgen much prefers to use a local, as he feels it is much safer. i live in nothern califorina, by the way. |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2009 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.