ADVERSE EVENTS AFTER LOCAL ANESTHESIA IN A DAY CARE ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY

Background: Each type of anesthesia has its own complication but the day care surgery under local anesthesia has minimized most of them. Different types of local anesthesia can be used in day care surgery. This study was conducted to determine the frequency of adverse events after local anesthesia. Material & Methods: This descriptive study was conducted on 48 consecutive patients who underwent day care surgery under local anesthesia in Orthopedic Department of Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar from 2006 to 2008. Bupivacaine Hydrochloride was used as a local anesthetic. After two hours of surgery, patients were assessed by surgeon and subsequently discharged home (score of 9 or more) using post anesthetic discharge scoring system (PADSS) after taking notes on postoperative nausea and vomiting, post operative pain, difficulty in movements and resumption of normal diet. Results: Out of 48 patients 20 were female and 28 were male. Average age was 23 years. The procedure performed were 7(14.58%) knee arthroscopy, 10(20.83%) excisional release of trigger finger, 9(18.75%) release of carpal tunnel, 19(39.58%) removal of foreign body and 3(6.25%) excision biopsies. Postoperative nausea and vomiting was noted in 3(6.25%) patients, post operative pain requiring parenteral analgesics in 12(25%), difficulty in movements in 7(14.58%) and not resuming normal diet in 2(4.16%) patients. Conclusion: Although local anesthesia was associated with minor adverse events, however the patients could resume normal diet and daily activities quickly.