Investigation of wound healing, mortality and infection parameters in upper extremity surgery with peripheral nerve block applications

Aim: In this retrospective study, it was aimed to compare wound healing, infection parameters and survival outcomes in patients undergoing upper extremity procedures under Peripheral Nerve Block versus General Anesthesia. Methods: A total of 5666 patients who underwent upper extremity surgery between 2014 and 2024 at İstanbul Gaziosmanpaşa Training and Research Hospital and included patients were subjected to the study. Patients were grouped according to anesthesia type as Peripheral Nerve Block (n=1259) and general anesthesia (n=4407). Age, gender, comorbidities, operation duration and hospitalization duration, sedimentation, procalcitonin, urine culture, CRP, wound site culture, blood culture and mortality at 6th month parameters of patients were analyzed. Results: Mean age, female sex, chronic renal failure, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, diabetes mellitus and hypertension frequencies were significantly higher in the general anesthesia group (p0.05). Procalcitonin level was significantly higher in general anesthesia group (p0.05). Correlation between anesthesia type and sedimentation, procalcitonin, urine culture, CRP, blood culture and mortality at 6th month were statistically insignificant (p>0.05). Chronic renal failure (OR=0.331; p0.05) Conclusion: In patients undergoing upper extremity procedures, wound healing, infection parameters and survival outcomes were similar for both general and peripheral nerve block anesthesia procedures.