Adoption of the Wide-Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet Technique in Hand Surgery

Abstract

» Wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) technique featuring tumescent infiltration of lidocaine with epinephrine at the operative site has broad application in hand surgery including both soft-tissue and bone procedures.» The advantages of wide-awake anesthesia include high patient satisfaction, preserved intraoperative finger and wrist motion, cost-effectiveness, improved operating room efficiency, fewer opioids during recovery, and improved access to hand surgery, which may be performed in an office-based setting without the need for anesthesia personnel.» In properly selected patients, use of lidocaine with epinephrine in the hand and fingers is safe. Rare postprocedure digital ischemia may be effectively treated with phentolamine rescue.» Barriers to adopting wide-awake anesthesia may be overcome by educating resistant stakeholders, including hospital administrators, nurse leaders, and anesthesia colleagues, about the advantages of the WALANT method.» The risk of postoperative complications after hand procedures may be mitigated by using the wide-awake technique instead of regional anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia.