Advances in Anesthesia Techniques and Their Impact on ICU Outcomes

Abstract

Progress in anesthesia practice has revolutionized perioperative care, and has an impact on critically ill surgical patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). This prospective observational study at the Department of Anesthesia, Lady Reading Hospital, assessed the influence of general anesthesia (GA), regional anesthesia (RA), and combined anesthesia (GA + RA) on ICU outcomes in 200 patients of various surgical disciplines. Patients were stratified into three groups: GA (80), RA (70), and GA + RA (50). Primary measures evaluated were ICU length of stay, mechanical ventilation duration, postoperative pain score, and complication rates such as infection and delirium. Outcomes proved that RA was linked with significantly shorter (2.1 ± 0.8 days) ICU stays and lower ventilation durations (6.5 ± 3.2 hours) than GA (3.6 ± 1.5 days and 9.2 ± 4.5 hours, respectively) and combined anesthesia groups. Combined anesthesia offered better postoperative pain relief but didn't decrease ICU stay to that degree compared with RA alone. Postoperative complication rates were lowest in the RA group and underscored the safety profile of RA. Multivariate analysis determined regional anesthesia to be an independent predictor of enhanced ICU outcome. These results justify the use of preference for regional anesthesia where possible in an effort to maximize ICU resource utilization and promote patient recovery. Implementation of advanced techniques in anesthesia within individualized perioperative protocols may enhance postoperative care and decrease ICU morbidity.