Spinal Mepivicaine With Fentanyl for Outpatient Knee Arthroscopy

Spinal Mepivicaine With Fentanyl for Outpatient Knee Arthroscopy Surgery

The purpose of this study is to determine if the addition of intrathecal fentanyl to low dose mepivacaine spinal anesthesia provides adequate surgical anesthesia with shorter duration of motor blockade.

It is hypothesized that lower doses of spinal mepivacaine when combined with fentanyl will result in adequate surgical block for knee arthroscopy surgery with faster recovery and discharge compared to mepivacaine alone.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients having unilateral arthroscopic surgery of the knee;
2. ASA I-III status;
3. Age 18-80 years;
4. BMI< 35.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients who have previous history of hypersensitivity to local anesthetics or contraindications for spinal anesthesia (i.e. bleeding diathesis, coagulopathy);
2. Patients with radiating low back pain and neurological deficits in lower extremities;
3. Patients who are incapable of giving an informed consent.