Most bilateral knee replacements and single knee replacements are performed under general anesthesia, but the researchers say regional anesthesia should be considered more frequently.
Bilateral knee replacements are associated with an increased risk of complications. Researchers looked at replacements performed on 22,253 patients between 2006 and 2010. Patients receiving regional, or neuraxial, anesthesia were 16 percent less likely to receive blood transfusions than those receiving general anesthesia.
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