Hand (New York, N.Y.)
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Hand (New York, N.Y.) · Sep 2020
Variation in Surgeons' Requests for General Anesthesia When Scheduling Carpal Tunnel Release.
Background: Carpal tunnel release (CTR) can be performed with a variety of anesthesia techniques. General anesthesia is associated with higher risk profile and increased resource utilization, suggesting it should not be routinely used for CTR. The purpose of this study was to examine the patient factors associated with surgeons' requests for general anesthesia for CTR and the frequency of routine use of general anesthesia by Veterans Health Administration (VHA) surgeons and facilities. ⋯ Three facilities and 28 surgeons who performed at least 5 CTRs requested general anesthesia for more than 75% of patients. Conclusions: Where CTR is performed and by whom appear to influence requests for general anesthesia more than patient factors in this study. Avoidance of routine use of general anesthesia for CTR should be considered in future clinical practice guidelines and quality measures.