Anest. intenziv. Med. 2010;21(6):311-316

Comparison of patient satisfaction after general and regional anaesthesia in total hip and knee replacement surgeryAnaesthesiology - Original Paper

Fořtová Magdalena^*, Šnajdárková Kateřina, Štorek Ludvík, Melicharová Olga, Hájková Tereza, Skoupá Markéta

Anesteziologicko-resuscitační oddělení, Pardubická krajská nemocnice, a. s.

Objective:
The aim of the study was comparing patient satisfaction and pain after general vs. regional anaesthesia in total hip and knee replacement surgery.

Design:
A prospective, comparative study.


Setting:
Department of Anesthesiology and Resuscitation, Regional Hospital.

Materials and methods:
All the patients who underwent total hip or knee replacement in general (GA) vs. combined epidural/spinal anaesthesia (EA/SA) in a one-year period were included in the study. The patients evaluated their satisfaction and pain relief at 6, 24 and 48 hours after surgery.

Results:
We evaluated 127 patients after total hip or knee replacement under general vs. epidural/ spinal anaesthesia. Patient satisfaction was significantly higher in the EA/SA vs. GA group at 6, 24 and 48 hours. Pain was significantly lower in the EA/SA vs. GA group at 6 and 24 hours. At 48 hours there were no differences between the two groups.

Conclusion:
We confirmed the hypothesis of higher patient satisfaction and better analgesia after EA/SA compared with general anaesthesia.

Keywords: general; regional anaesthesia; total hip replacement; total knee replacement; satisfaction; analgesia

Received: June 19, 2010; Accepted: September 17, 2010; Published: December 1, 2010  Show citation