Local anesthesia-induced coma during total knee arthroplasty

Summary

This article by Robin Aldwinckle discusses the case study of a 61-year-old male patient with severe knee osteoarthritis and hypertension who was admitted for surgery under subarachnoid regional anesthesia. However at the end of the procedure, the patient remained unresponsive and was subsequently diagnosed with Local Anesthetic Systemic Toxicity (LAST).

Whilst the patient recovered, this case highlights a lack of communication between the operating room team members concerning the safe dosing of local anesthetics and that the correct diagnosis and treatment of LAST in the operating room is critically important.