Ambulatory phlebectomy using the tumescent technique for local anesthesia.
BACKGROUND
Ambulatory phlebectomy is a cosmetically elegant procedure that provides outpatient office-based surgical removal of large truncal varicose veins. The process of local anesthetic infiltration using traditional means is a time-consuming process that can be painful, and carries with it the inherent risk of accidental intravascular injection.


OBJECTIVE
To introduce the tumescent technique for local anesthesia as it relates to the procedure of ambulatory phlebectomy and discuss the benefits of this form of anesthesia.


METHODS
A description of the technique utilizing a dilute anesthetic solution, an injection syringe, and blunt-tipped anesthetic probe is provided.


RESULTS
Using the tumescent technique for local anesthesia, large areas can be anesthetized quickly, safely, effectively, and relatively painlessly, offering multiple advantages over simple local infiltration, and eliminating the need for regional or general anesthesia.


CONCLUSIONS
The authors consider the tumescent anesthesia technique to be highly effective and an important adjunct to the procedure of ambulatory phlebectomy.
Cohn
M S
MS
Department of Dermatology, Pontiac Osteopathic Hospital, Pontiac, Michigan, USA.
Seiger
E
E
Goldman
S
S
D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000379:methods*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D011182:Postoperative Care; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000601:surgery*; D014680:Veins / Q000601:surgery*
D000779:Anesthetics, Local