Posterior Anesthetic Sciatic Nerve Block in Outpatient Leg and Foot Surgery

Abstract

Introduction: Sciatic nerve block is a rarely used anesthetic technique for lower limb surgeries that constitutes a useful alternative to subarachnoid block in contingency situations.

Objective: To describe the usefulness of anesthetic block of the sciatic nerve, posterior approach, in outpatient surgery of the leg and foot.

Methods: An observational, analytical, longitudinal and prospective study was carried out in patients with leg or foot disease, eligible for surgical treatment, at Dr. Mario Muñoz Monroy from January 2015 to December 2017.

Results: Sixty patients were evaluated, 30 of them due to sciatic block and 30 due to spinal anesthesia, predominating young patients (38.4 ± 7.2 years of age), white skin (33/55%), gender female (34/56.7%), ASA I (35/58.3%). The majority of surgeries were orthopedic and traumatology. The operating room and anesthetic times in patients with sciatic block were shorter, so adequate postoperative analgesia was achieved and no complications occurred.

Conclusions: Anesthetic block of the sciatic nerve, posterior approach, constitutes a useful anesthetic procedure for outpatient surgery of the leg and foot.