• J O Weihrauch, M Jehmlich, M Leischik, and H-B Hopf.
• Orthopädische Klinik, Abteilung für Anästhesie und Intensivmedizin, Johann-Wolfgang Goethe Universität, Frankfurt/Main.
• Anasthesiol Intensivmed Notfallmed Schmerzther. 2005 Jan 1;40(1):18-24.

ObjectiveWe compared peripheral nerve blocks (PNB, femoral nerve block together with anterior sciatic nerve block) as sole anaesthetic with epidural anaesthesia (EA) in a randomised study in patients undergoing elective arthroscopic knee surgery with respect to patient satisfaction and time required to perform each procedure.Methods99 ASA class I-III patients were randomised to either PNB (20 ml bupivacaine 0.5 % + 60 ml prilocaine 1 %) or EA (12 - 20 ml bupivacaine 0.5 %).Endpointspatient satisfaction with the anaesthetic evaluated by a questionnaire 3 months after the operation, anaesthesia and surgical times, need for additional analgesics and the modified Aldrete-score (global assessment of postanaesthetic condition) at admission in the postanaesthesia care unit.ResultsSignificantly more patients in the PNB compared to the EA group needed intravenous opioid supplementation (10 vs. 3, p = 0.040). While the patients in the PNB group had a significantly higher modified Aldrete score (9.3 +/- 0.7 vs. 8.8 +/- 0.9, p = 0.0009), assessment (0 = worst, 10 = best) of the induction of PNB or EA respectively, was significantly better rated in the EA compared to PNB group (8.7 +/- 2.1 vs. 6.7 +/- 2.6, p = 0.0024). Assuming that the willingness to undergo the same anaesthetic again reflect overall satisfaction with the procedure satisfaction in both groups was high: 25/26 (PNB) and 27/28 (EA) would have preferred their regional blockade (p = 0.95).ConclusionPatients in the PNB and EA group both were satisfied with their anaesthetic procedure. While there are obviously differences in favour of the EA, PNB is an alternative in the case of contraindication or patient rejection to EA.

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