Korean J Anesthesiol.  1994 Oct;27(10):1348-1353. 10.4097/kjae.1994.27.10.1348.

Vital sign changes associated with tourniquet use under spinal anesthesia for total knee arthroplasty

• Lee SC
• Bae JH

• KMID: 2240506
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.1994.27.10.1348

Abstract

Tourniquet is usually used for total knee arthroplasty to provide s bloodless surgical field. However, there is a possibility that sustained inflation of tourniquet can cause hypertension, while deflation can cause hypotension. In 31 patients who received total knee artroplasty under spinal anesthesia in Seoul National University Hospital, we examined the changes of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate (HR) (1) before induction (2) just before inflation of tourniquet, (3) at 10 minutes after inflation of it, and (4) just before deflation of tourniquet. We also checked (5) the maximsl change of SBP and HR within 5 minutes after deflation of it. The results were as follows: 1) As time went, inflation did not bring any remarkable change of SBP and HR. 2) SBP decreased by 19 mmHg (p < 0.05) after release of tourniquet. But HR did not change significantly. In conclusion, it is suggested that we have to pay special attention to the patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty operation under spinal anesthesia, because tourniquet deflation might cause significant lowering of blood pressure.

Keyword

Tourniquet; Spinal anesthesia; Total knee arthroplasty

MeSH Terms

Anesthesia, Spinal*
Arthroplasty*
Blood Pressure
Heart Rate
Humans
Hypertension
Hypotension
Inflation, Economic
Knee*
Seoul
Tourniquets*
Vital Signs*