RESUMEN
Forty adult ambulatory knee arthroscopy patients received either selective spinal anesthesia with 5mg of hyperbaric bupivacaine or general anesthesia with sevoflurane in a randomized and controlled study. The study was done to determine whether spinal anesthesia with small dose bupivacaine provides equal fast-tracking possibilities a shorter stay in the postanesthesia care unit [PCU], and earlier discharge for home compared with general anesthesia with sevoflurane. No difference was seen in the fast tracking possibilities or time in the postanesthesia care unit [PACU] between the two groups. Home readiness was achieved after 95.25 [45-210] and 115 [44-260] minutes [NS] in the selective spinal anesthesia and general anesthesia groups respectively. In the hospital, the pain scores were significantly [p=0.028] higher in the general anesthesia group compared with the spinal anesthesia group and the need for postoperative opioids was significantly larger [p<0.0132] after general anesthesia. The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting was 0% versus 25% in the selective spinal anesthesia and the general anesthesia groups respectively [p<0.0168]. We conclude that for outpatients undergoing knee arthroscopy, selective spinal anesthesia with hyperbaric bupivacaine provides equal recovery times with less frequent side effects compared with general anesthesia with sevoflurane