Anestesia combinada epidural-general ligera: una alternativa en cirugía plástica / Combined epidural-light general anaesthesia: an alternative in plastic surgery

RESUMEN

Introducción: La cirugía plástica estética implica usualmente la realización de dos o más eventos quirúrgicos, siendo las técnicas anestésicas más usadas la general o epidural; una alternativa muy interesante es la utilización de anestesia combinada epidural general ligera, tratando de obtener los beneficios de cada técnica y de disminuir los inconvenientes inherentes a cada una de ellas. Objetivo: Describir el uso de la técnica anestésica combinada epidural-general ligera en pacientes de cirugía estética. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo tipo serie de casos en el cual se recolectaron datos de 67 pacientes de cirugía plástica realizados en la Clínica Corpus y Rostrum de la ciudad de Cali, a quienes se les administró anestesia combinada epidural-general ligera en el periodo comprendido entre enero y junio de 2008. Fueron incluidos pacientes con dos o más eventos anatomo-quirúrgicos durante el mismo procedimiento anestésico, o cirugías con requerimiento anestésico en dermatomas superiores a T4 y lumbares o sacros al mismo tiempo. Resultados: Los volúmenes y concentraciones de anestésico local fueron bajos, igualmente los requerimientos de anestésicos generales. El efecto secundario más frecuente fue la hipotensión, fácilmente manejado con vasopresores. No se presentaron casos de recuerdo intraoperatorio. Conclusiones: La anestesia general-epidural constituye una alternativa atractiva para la realización de cirugías estéticas.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Aesthetic plastic surgery usually involves two or more surgical events taking place during the same anaesthetic procedure; the most widely used anaesthetic techniques are general and epidural anaesthesia. A very interesting alternative is the use of combined epidural and light general anaesthesia, attempting to obtain the benefits of each technique and reduce the disadvantages inherent in each one. Objective: Describing the use of the combined epidural-light general anaesthesia technique in aesthetic surgery patients. Methods: This was a descriptive case series in which data were collected from 67 patients having plastic surgery performed at the Corpus and Rostrum Clinic in Cali, who received combined epidural-light general anaesthesia between January and June 2008. Patients undergoing two or more anatomo-surgical events during the same anaesthetic procedure were included, as were those undergoing surgery with an anaesthetic requirement involving dermatomes over T4 and lumbar or sacral dermatomes at the same time. Results: Local anaesthetic volume and concentration were low, as were general anaesthetic requirements. The most common side-effect was hypotension which was easily managed with vasopressors. There were no cases of intraoperative recall. Conclusions: The light general-epidural anaesthesia technique is an attractive option for cosmetic surgery.