Arthroscopy : the journal of arthroscopic & related surgery : official publication of the Arthroscopy Association of North America and the International Arthroscopy Association
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Interscalene anesthesia for shoulder arthroscopy in a community-sized military hospital.
The first 100 consecutive shoulder arthroscopic procedures performed under interscalene anesthesia at a small community-sized military hospital are the basis of this report. This method of anesthesia was compared with 100 shoulder arthroscopies performed in a previous 2-year time period under general anesthesia. A variety of arthroscopic and subsequent open reconstructive procedures about the shoulder were performed using both techniques. ⋯ Ten patients who had previous shoulder surgery under general anesthesia preferred the interscalene method. In summary, interscalene anesthesia proved to be an excellent method of anesthesia for shoulder arthroscopy. The technique is reproducible within the resources available in most community-level hospitals.