A group of researchers examined 12,929 patients who underwent surgical procedures and published their results in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. The patient information came from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program and procedures were performed from 2007 to 2011.
Around 39.5 percent of the patients had regional anesthesia; the remaining patients were put under general anesthesia. Here are five findings from the study:
1. The risk of deep surgical site infections was significantly lower among patients who had regional anesthesia.
2. Hospital length of stay decreased 5 percent for patients who underwent regional anesthesia. This translates to 0.17 days for each total hip arthroplasty.
3. The risk for prolonged hospital stay was decreased 27 percent for patients who underwent regional anesthesia.
4. The mortality rate was similar between the patients who underwent regional and general anesthesia.
5. The odds for cardiovascular and respiratory complications were lower in the regional anesthesia group.
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