Tumescent technique

Abstract

The tumescent technique has improved the problem of blood loss, reducing it to 1–7.8% from the early dry technique of 30% loss. The term “superwet anesthesia” has been used to describe the same fluid injection as with the tumescent technique. This technique consists of an infusion of saline with epinephrine and lidocaine and an aspirate removal of approximately 1:1. Local tumescent anesthesia usually has a fluid infusion to aspirate of 2:1 or 3:1. The difference between local tumescent anesthesia and tumescent technique is discussed and the technique described.