LOCAL-ANESTHESIA FOR KNEE ARTHROSCOPY - EFFICACY AND COST-BENEFITS

We performed a retrospective review of a series of knee arthroscopic p rocedures that were completed using local, general, or regional anesth esia to evaluate the efficacy of these anesthetic techniques. Operativ e time, complications or failures, procedures successfully performed, recovery room time and postoperative stay, and patient satisfaction we re recorded. Local anesthesia with intravenous sedation compared favor ably with the other techniques: operative time was not increased, a la rge variety of operative procedures were successfully completed, recov ery time was significantly shortened, and patient satisfaction remaine d high. This technique offers several advantages over other types of a nesthesia for knee arthroscopy, including improved cost effectiveness.