INFUSION RATES AND LEVELS OF PREMEDICATION IN TUMESCENT LIPOSUCTION

BACKGROUND. Tumescent liposuction has proven to be an extremely safe a nd effective method of liposuction. However, the infusion of tumescent anesthesia can take 1 hour or move to complete. OBJECTIVE. To documen t the types, dosages, and routes of administration of premedication ut ilized by four experienced tumescent liposuction surgeons. To determin e if infusion rates for tumescent anesthesia are affected by types of premedication. METHODS. Four experienced liposuction surgeons were ask ed to review their most recent 100 tumescent liposuction patients with respect to types and dosages of premedication and routes of administr ation. Data were also provided on corresponding infusion pump settings and infusion rates. Volumes of tumescent anesthesia and corresponding volumes of fat aspirated were also collected on the same 400 patients . RESULTS. Infusion of tumescent anesthesia could be performed more ra pidly in patients who were given greater amounts of premedication. Vol umes of tumescent anesthesia infused were generally two or more times the volume of fat aspirated. Patients could be infused with less preme dication if slow infiltration was employed. CONCLUSION. Infusion rates for tumescent anesthesia can be increased of greater amounts of preme dication are given. However, this must be balanced against the safety of the premedication. (C) 1997 by the American Society for Dermatologi c Surgery, Inc.