Bulletin of the Hospital for Joint Disease (2013)
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Bull Hosp Jt Dis (2013) · Mar 2015
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyThe Impact of Popliteal Block on Postoperative Medication Administration and Time to Discharge from the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit.
Previous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of popliteal block anesthesia in decreasing post - operative narcotic administration, nausea, and length of stay in patients undergoing foot and ankle surgeries. The purpose of this study was to compare the amount of narcotic medication administered, the need for anti-emetic medication, PACU length of stay, and discharge status in patients treated surgically for ankle fractures who received popliteal blocks with those who received general anesthesia alone. ⋯ While previous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of popliteal block in decreasing anti-emetic and pain medication administration in the PACU, we found no difference in the amount of medication administered. We found that popliteal block patients were no more likely to be discharged to home than those who received general anesthesia.