A P R I L 2 0 2 0 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y. N E T • 6 1
O
ne of outpatient
surgery's hottest
specialties is
fueling the rise
of spinal anes-
thesia. "Before we performed
total joints in surgery centers, we
hadn't utilized spinal anesthesia
for any other procedures," says
Mike MacKinnon, CRNA, who
practices in Arizona. "Now we're
using low-dose spinals — 0.8 cc
to 1.0 cc of 0.75% bupivacaine —
for total knees."
Mr. MacKinnon says this low
dose lets surgeons perform total
knees with sedation plus an
adductor canal block and iPACK
or popliteal plexus block. "The
spinal wears off within 30 min-
utes to an hour in post-op, allow-
ing the patient to start physio-
therapy almost immediately," he
adds. "The blocks also keep them pain free for up to 30 hours."
Surgeons are better able to perform total knees with a spinal block
placed because of the significant benefit total paralysis of the lower
extremity provides, according to Mr. MacKinnon.
Joe Paone | Senior Associate Editor
Spinal Anesthesia Is the Smart Choice
The lower-body blocks lead to quicker recoveries and limit opioid use.
• ONE AND DONE Spinal anesthesia requires one shot, has a
quick onset and can provide full numbness and paralysis for less
than an hour.
