IMPACT OF REGIONAL ANESTHESIA IN REDUCING POSTOPERATIVE COMPLICATIONS IN TOTAL HIP ARTHROPLASTY SURGERY: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

Total hip arthroplasty is a widely performed procedure for the treatment of degenerative diseases and hip fractures, and is associated with a significant risk of postoperative complications. The choice of anesthetic technique plays a fundamental role in the safety and recovery of patients undergoing this intervention. Regional anesthesia has been widely studied as an alternative to general anesthesia, demonstrating potential benefits in reducing postoperative adverse events. This integrative review aimed to analyze the impact of regional anesthesia in reducing postoperative complications in total hip arthroplasty surgeries. The search was performed in scientific databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and SciELO, covering studies published in the last 10 years. The results showed that regional anesthesia is associated with a lower incidence of cardiovascular and thromboembolic complications, reduced need for blood transfusions, reduced hospital stay and lower risk of postoperative delirium in elderly patients. Furthermore, the results suggest that this approach contributes to better control of postoperative pain, generally the need for opioids and their adverse effects. It is concluded that regional anesthesia is an effective strategy to improve the perioperative stages in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty, and its adoption as the first choice in eligible candidates is recommended. However, additional studies are needed to standardize anesthetic protocols and confirm its long-term benefits.