IMPLEMENTATION OF WALANT ANESTHESIA FOR HAND AND WRIST SURGERIES IN A TERTIARY HOSPITAL: PILOT STUDY.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the feasibility and patient satisfaction of using the WALANT technique in treating low-complexity hand and wrist surgical conditions.

METHODS

A prospective pilot study conducted in a tertiary hospital, including individuals aged ≥18 years, ASA I or II, undergoing low-complexity procedures lasting <1 hour. Those with contraindications to local anesthesia or clinical conditions that could affect the study data were excluded. Participants received WALANT anesthesia. Demographic and clinical data were collected, and the Numerical Pain Scale measured pain.

RESULTS

Twenty-one participants who underwent 23 surgical procedures were analyzed. 69.6% were women, a mean age of 49.6 ± 15.6 years, and 73.9% were ASA II. During the procedures, 86.5% reported tolerable pain only once, attributed to the needle puncture of the skin (mean of 2.0 ± 1.7 on a scale of 0-10). Only 5% reported that the pain of anesthesia was greater than that of contralateral venous access. Intraoperative bleeding was tolerable.

CONCLUSION

The WALANT technique showed sufficient anesthetic and vasoconstrictor efficacy for most low-complexity hand and wrist surgeries and ensured patient comfort even without sedation. Level of Evidence IV; Case Series .