Evaluating patient satisfaction with WALANT for hand surgery: a comprehensive questionnaire-based study.

Abstract

There has been an increase in the popularity of the wide-awake local anesthesia no-tourniquet (WALANT) procedure for various upper limb surgeries. The present study aims to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the satisfaction levels of 106 patients, considering factors such as age, gender, comorbidities, and the specific procedures they underwent. The present study was a retrospective cohort study conducted to analyze the overall satisfaction of a cohort of 106 patients who underwent various surgical procedures of the hand between 2018 and 2023. The satisfaction was assessed with a questionnaire comprising 13 questions/statements adjusted to a standard Swiss grading system (from 1 = I strongly agree to 6 = I strongly disagree). Overall satisfaction with WALANT was high, with most patients expressing positive experiences. Patients with hypertension reported similar satisfaction levels compared to those without, while diabetic patients experienced significantly higher anxiety levels during the procedure (p > 0.05). WALANT exhibits versatility as an anesthesia choice, demonstrating efficacy in both routine and complex hand surgeries. Our survey-based study reveals a high satisfaction level across diverse procedures. When assessing the correlation between WALANT satisfaction and patient comorbidities, hypertension displayed no significant impact, while diabetic patients reported heightened anxiety. Importantly, patient satisfaction remained consistently high even within the subgroup with comorbidities. Our results underscore WALANT's reliability in upper limb surgery, showcasing its usefulness and positive outcomes across a broad range of patients and surgical procedures.