ABSTRACT
Tumescent anesthesia has not only proved to be useful for liposuction (1) but also for vein stripping and for many other procedures in skin surgery as well.
This chapter describes a method of administering diluted anesthetic solutions which achieve widespread infiltration for nearly all procedures in skin surgery while remaining within the maximum recommended dose. The administration takes place in the form of automated, slow, subcutaneous infusion by infusomats with volume and flow control. The method was studied clinically using ropivacaine (Naropin), a long-lasting local anesthetic which has proven its value as a low-toxic, long-acting local anesthetic.
