ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effect of ultrasound-and nerve stimulator-guided femoral nerve and lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block versus general anesthesia on knee joint surgery in elderly patients.Methods The 110 elderly patients with spinal anesthetic contraindication and undergoing lower extremity surgery from June 2014 to June 2015 were randomly divided into observation group (n =55) and control group (n =55).The observation group received both ultrasound-and nerve stimulator-guided femoral nerve and lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block,and the control group was given general anesthesia.Anesthesia procedure,sensory block onset time,changes in heart rate and mean artery pressure (MAP) after anesthesia,the total quantity of fluids infusion,dosage of vasopressor and hypotensor,adverse anesthetic reactions,anesthetic fees,anesthetic effect were recorded.Results Anesthetic preparation and practicing time had no difference between the two groups [(8.3 ± 1.7) min vs.(7.7 ± 1.2) min,(t =1.661,P=0.139)].The block onset time was longer in observation group than in control group [(10.3 ± 1.4) min vs.(3.2±0.6) min,t=50.180,P＜0.01].The changes in MAP had significant difference between the two groups [5 min after anesthesia:(89.24 ± 8.30) mmHg and (77.90 ± 8.05) mmHg;after operation:(96.60±8.03) mmHg and (106.22±8.88) mmHg;P＜0.05].There were significant differences in the fluid infusion quantity,dosage of vasopressor and hypotensor,adverse reactions during or after anesthesia,and anesthetic fees between the two groups [(1150.9± 231.6) ml vs.(1400.0±256.5) ml,(3.91±1.21) mg vs.(10.83±2.19)mg,(1.80±0.37) mg vs.(8.27±1.25)mg,3.6％ vs.18.2％,(1239.1±202.9) Yuan vs.(2307.2±205.6) Yuan,all P＜0.05].No significant difference was found in anesthesia effect between the two groups (P =0.198).Conclusions The ultrasound-and nerve stimulator-guided femoral nerve and lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block versus general anesthesia is more simple and safe for the knee joint surgery in elderly patients,with less complications,lower cost and higher satisfaction of patients.