Arthroscopy – Knee
Anesthesia Implications
Position: Supine, arms at side on armboards
Time: 30-60 min (short)
Blood Loss: Very Low (5-10 ml)
Post-op Pain: Minimal (1-3)
Maintenance Paralytic: No
Tourniquet Use: Yes
- GLMA
- GETT
- MAC, Propofol Drip, Spinal
Tourniquet (general considerations): Antibiotics should be administered prior to tourniquet inflation. Tourniquet pain usually begins 45-60 minutes after inflation and is unresponsive to regional anesthesia and analgesics. Upper extremity pressure should be set to approximately 70-90 mmHg above systolic blood pressure (SBP). Lower extremity tourniquet pressure should be set to approximately 2 times SBP. Upon tourniquet release, there will be increases in End-tidal CO2 and metabolic acidosis, while decreases will be seen in core body temperature, blood pressure, and mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO2)
