• J D Vloka, A Hadzic, R Mulcare, J B Lesser, R Koorn, and D M Thys.
• Department of Anesthesiology, St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY 10025, USA.
• J Clin Anesth. 1997 Dec 1;9(8):618-22.

Study ObjectiveTo compare a combination of peripheral nerve blocks with spinal anesthesia in ambulatory patients undergoing short saphenous vein stripping.DesignProspective, randomized study.SettingUniversity hospital.Patients28 ASA physical status l and II ambulatory surgery patients undergoing short saphenous vein stripping.Interventions14 patients received a popliteal block (sciatic nerve block at the popliteal fossa) using 30 ml of alkalinized 3% chloroprocaine and a posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh block with 10 ml of 1% lidocaine. The 14 patients who were randomized to the spinal anesthesia group received 65 mg of 5% hyperbaric lidocaine.Measurements And Main ResultsThere were no significant differences in age and gender between the two groups (mean age 53 +/- 13 years, 8 men and 20 women). Patients in the peripheral nerve block group recovered significantly faster in phase 1 of the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) (67 +/- 10 min vs. 122 +/- 50 min, p < 0.01) and were discharged home sooner (222 +/- 53 min vs. 294 +/- 69 min, p < 0.01) than the patients in the spinal anesthesia group.ConclusionsThe combination of popliteal and posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh blocks provided adequate anesthesia and a faster recovery profile with a similar subjective acceptance of both anesthetic techniques in ambulatory patients undergoing short saphenous vein stripping in the prone position.

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