Anaesthetic techniques and thromboembolism in total hip arthroplasty

Sixty patients who were scheduled for total hip replacement were randomly allocated to receive either epidural blockade or neurolept anaesthesia. All patients received dextran 70. The blood loss during surgery and the mean arterial blood pressure were lower following epidural anaesthesia. However, the frequency of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, as diagnosed by ascending phlebography and pulmonary scintigraphy, was the same in the two groups. It is concluded that, although epidural anaesthesia may be considered for other reasons, there is no reduction in thromboembolic complications with this anaesthetic technique in patients who receive dextran.