Anesthesia and Analgesia for Hip Surgery

Abstract

Key preoperative issues in anesthesia for hip surgery are the choice of regional or general anesthesia and optimization of the patients’ medical condition. Intraoperatively, attention should be focused on intraoperative fluid management, avoidance of hypothermia, and minimization of the possibility of allogenic blood transfusion. Postoperatively, the need for enhanced care in higher-risk patients must be recognized. If general anesthesia is used, ideally this should be performed in conjunction with a form of local anesthetic technique. Fixation of hip fractures should be undertaken with minimum delay. For all types of orthopedic surgery, preventive treatment should be in place to minimize the risk of infection and deep vein thrombosis, as well as management of postoperative pain and nausea.