Regional anesthesia for microsurgery in China: a review

Area of Science:

• Microsurgery
• Anesthesiology
• Reconstructive Surgery

Background:

• Microsurgical procedures require specialized anesthetic techniques for optimal outcomes.
• Effective anesthesia is crucial for prolonged operations, preventing vasospasm and promoting vasodilatation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review anesthetic methods used in a large series of microsurgical operations.
• To evaluate the distribution and application of different anesthetic techniques in microsurgery.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 1185 microsurgical operations performed between June 1968 and December 1985.
• Categorization of procedures including limb reimplantations, free tissue transfers, and hand reconstructions.
• Documentation and analysis of various anesthetic techniques employed, such as brachial plexus block, epidural blocks, general anesthesia, and acupuncture.

Main Results:

• A total of 1185 microsurgical operations were performed.
• Brachial plexus block was the most frequently used anesthetic technique (33.8%), followed by cervical epidural block (19.6%).
• Other methods included general anesthesia, combined epidural blocks, lumbar epidural block, and acupuncture.

Conclusions:

• The study highlights the diverse range of anesthetic approaches utilized in microsurgery.
• Brachial plexus block emerged as a preferred method, likely due to its efficacy in providing prolonged operating conditions.
• Appropriate anesthetic management is critical for successful microsurgical interventions, particularly in facilitating vascular anastomosis.