Effects of regional anaesthesia on mortality in patients undergoing lower extremity amputation: A retrospective pooled analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Lower extremity amputation (LEA) is a commonly performed surgery and is associated with significant mortality and morbidity. This review compares the impact of anaesthetic technique on 30-day mortality and other perioperative outcomes in patients undergoing LEA. METHODS: A systematic search of databases including PubMed, Embase, Scopus and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, from January 2010 to March 2021, was performed. Studies were eligible if they compared 30-day mortality following either general anaesthesia (GA) or regional anaesthesia (RA), in adult patients undergoing LEA. RESULTS: Ten retrospective observational studies were identified. Four of these studies utilised a propensity-score matching technique. Based on these four studies, RA when compared to GA, is not associated with a reduction in the 30-day mortality (Odds ratio 0.83, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.65, 1.05, I(2) 20%, P = 0.12). Also there is a very low level of evidence that RA may result in a decrease in the hospital length-of-stay and intensive care unit admissions of patients undergoing LEA. CONCLUSION: RA does not decrease the 30-day postoperative mortality in patients undergoing LEA when compared to GA.