UK Trainee Experience with WALANT - An Audit of 102 Cases.
UK trainees use far less WALANT anesthetic volume than previously published amounts.
UK Trainee Experience with WALANT - An Audit of 102 Cases.
WALANT has gained much popularity in recent years, especially with COVID-19.
The aims of this study were (1) to survey a group of plastic surgery trainees in the UK about their knowledge of WALANT formulas, and (2) to compare trainee logbook records of WALANT procedures (if available) with published data from the UK.
trainees used about half the anesthetic volume of prior published protocols
All trainees were familiar with the 'standard' WALANT formula (1% lidocaine, 1:100,000 adrenaline ± 8.4% NaHCO 3 ) described by Lalonde.
However, because of local formularies, rather than 1:100,000 adrenaline, all used 1:200,000 adrenaline as it comes premixed in the UK.
Other formulas used by UK trainees included 0.5% bupivacaine + 1:200,000 adrenaline, and mixing 1% lidocaine + 1:200,000 adrenaline with 1% lidocaine 1:1.
While the British Society for Surgery of the Hand (British Society for Surgery of the Hand) have developed official guidance for the use of WALANT in the UK, it appears there remains much variation in interpretation and hence, application.
Comparison of trainee logbook records of common hand surgery procedures suggests that most can be done with much less WALANT administered than previously reported, with safe and reproducible results.
Level of Evidence: Level IV (Therapeutic).