[Sciatic and femoral nerve block with electro-neural stimulator (ENS) in surgery of the knee in day-care surgery].

This study was designed to evaluate locoregional anesthesia (double block of sciatic and femoral nerves with ENS) for ambulatory knee arthroscopic surgery. A statistical evaluation was performed in 50 adult outpatients (41 males, 9 females, ASA class 1 or 2) undergoing ambulatory knee arthroscopic procedures. Basal and intraoperative BP, HR SaO2 were recorded and the intensity of analgesia was also assessed according to the patient's subjective evaluation. Extra sedative or analgesic requirements were also recorded. There were no statistical changes in hemodynamic parameters during the perioperative period. The effectiveness of the anaesthetic block was classified as very good in 84% of patients, good in 2%, sufficient in 6% and inadequate in 8%. All patients were discharged in four hours after surgery. Our study shows that in ambulatory arthroscopic surgery, sciatic and femoral block with ENS is a valuable alternative to general anaesthesia.