Information about General Anesthesia for Hip and Knee Surgery
by Phoenix Personal Injury Lawyer - Mark Breyer
As personal injury attorneys in Phoenix, Arizona it is amazing how many clients we see who require hip and knee surgery as a result of an accident. We see this many times for car accidents and slip and falls. Hip and knee injuries are very common injuries in accidents.
When you have surgery, it can be a very scary thought. Many times people who have been hurt in a Phoenix car accident, motor cycle accident, or other type of accident due to the negligence of another individual, they do not want to get surgery. Taking a precautionary route of medical care is a very good idea. When you are injured as the result of the negligence of another individual, it is important to remember that the medical treatment an injured person has will be closely examined by the insurance adjuster.
When having hip or knee surgery, typically the patient will go into the hospital or into a surgi center. Surgi centers are very common now in Arizona. When having surgery, one of the reasons people have apprehensions is because they will typically need anesthesia.
The selection of anesthesia by a patient and doctor is a major decision and could have a huge impact on a patient’s recovery. There are several questions that a patient should discuss with their surgeon and anesthesiologist. Have you ever had anesthesia before, what kind, did you have a reaction to the anesthesia, what happened, and how other members of your family react to anesthesia. A patient will also be asked about their physical condition; do you smoke, are you overweight, do you drink or use recreational drugs, are you being treated for any medical condition other than your joint replacement. Questions about reactions to medications will also be asked; do you have allergies, have you ever experienced bad side effects from a drug, which drug, what are the side effects, what medications nutritional supplements vitamins or herbal remedies are you currently taking? Surgeons and anesthesiologists will also discuss the risk factors involved. Risks may vary depending on the patient’s health and selection of anesthesia. Complications include breathing difficulties, blood loss, and allergic reactions.
Regional anesthesia involves numbing a specific area of the body without affecting your brain or breathing. Patients are given a sedative to relax and go into a light sleep because they are awake during the procedure. The two most common types of anesthesia for joint replacement surgery are spinal blocks and epidural blocks. Spinal block anesthesia is inserted into the fluid surrounding the spinal cord in the lower part of the patients back. The injection produces a rapid numbing effect that can last for hours, depending on the drug used. An epidural block uses a small tube or catheter inserted into your lower back to deliver large quantities of local anesthetics over a longer time period. The epidural block and spinal block are administered in a very similar location. However, the epidural catheter is place slightly closer to the skin and farther from the spinal cord.
There are several advantages to using a regional anesthesia during a hip or knee replacement surgery. Studies have shown that there is less blood loss and fewer complications from blood clotting afterwards. Side effects from regional anesthesia include headaches, trouble urinating, and allergic reactions which can be very serious.
