Outpatient Orificial Surgery in the Elderly with Infiltrative Local Anesthesia

Abstract

Introduction: Numerous international centers have implemented major outpatient surgery programs that include procedures for proctological orificial conditions. Most of these diseases in the elderly are notable for their frequency, requiring quick, simple, and low-complexity surgical procedures. Local infiltrative anesthesia, used by few surgeons for orificial conditions, has now become widespread due to its benefits, especially in older adults.

Objective: To evaluate the results of outpatient surgical care in older adults using local infiltrative anesthesia according to the protocols of the coloproctology service at the Comandante Manuel Fajardo University Surgical Hospital.

Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional, observational case series study was conducted. Theoretical and empirical research methods were used. A questionnaire was administered to a sample of 40 older adults, and the variables studied were age groups, sex, risk factors, comorbidity, surgical diagnosis, complications, and reoperations.

Results: Females and ages between 70 and 79 years prevailed. The most frequent comorbidity was high blood pressure, and anal ulcer was the most frequent diagnosis. Fifteen patients had minor complications, and only two required outpatient reoperation using local anesthesia.

Conclusions: The introduction of outpatient orificial surgery with infiltrative local anesthesia is a beneficial care system for the elderly, with an impact on their quality of life and socioeconomic status.