The belief that the choice of anesthetic technique has little effect on long term outcome is being challenged. New evidence is being presented in the literature suggesting that anesthetic technique, in fact, may make a difference in long term outcome.
A recent study by Kavanagh T, and Buggy DJ. (Curr Opin Anaesthesiol. 2012 Apr;25(2):185-98.) titled Can anaesthetic technique effect postoperative outcome? examines aspects of anesthetic management that may effect postoperative outcomes. According to the authors, a review of the literature has revealed the following:
- Administration of supplemental oxygen and the avoidance of perioperative hypothermia, allogeneic blood transfusion, hyperglycaemia or large swings in blood glucose levels reduces postoperative infection rates.
- The use of regional anaesthesia techniques reduces chronic postsurgical pain.
- The avoidance of nitrous oxide reduces the long-term risk of myocardial infarction.
The authors point out that the findings of many studies can be debated and recommend large scale studies with long term followup to gather better data. Such studies could better identify correlations between anesthetic technique and cancer recurrence, neurotoxicity, and the development of postoperative cognitive dysfunction.
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