[Technics of locoregional anesthesia of the lower limb]

Regional anesthesia represents a selective method for surgery of the lower limbs because of its simplicity and its handiness. The various techniques of regional anesthesia are analysed with their risks and benefits. Epidural and spinal anesthesia represent safe and simple methods. Moreover, epidural anesthesia enables postoperative analgesia by means of a continuous infusion of local anesthetics or the injection of narcotics. Nervous blocks of the lower limbs represents also safe techniques especially for elderly patients and for day-case surgery. Intravenous regional anesthesia does not represent an usefull technique because of the possible toxicity due to a great volume of local anesthetic drugs.