[Tipps and Tricks - Anesthesiologic management in total knee replacement]

Total knee replacement improves mobility and quality of life in gonarthrosis. In 2004 more than 60.000 total knee arthroplasties were performed in Germany. Because of severe postoperative pain which can interfere with functional outcome and impair hospital discharge, effective postoperative analgesia is not only important for patient satisfaction but also for economic reasons. For the 1990(th) years femoral nerve blocks have become more popular leads back to lower risk of complications and equal quality of analgesia compared to neuroaxial blockades. The prevention of "tourniquet pain" as well as treatment of hemodynamic and respiratory failure in the context of pulmonary embolic events and tourniquet deflation is part of anesthesiologic challenge.