Surgical techniques used by Dr Couturier in Paris
The WALANT method
What does WALANT mean?
The acronym. WALANT stands for "Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet", which means awake anesthesia without a tourniquet at the root of the limb.
What is this anesthesia method?
This technique was invented by a Canadian, Professor Donald Lalonde, to enable procedures to be carried out using local anaesthetic, either when an operation is required and no anaesthetist is available, or when a tourniquet is contraindicated, or when it is useful during the operation to maintain mobility.
Indeed, with this method of anesthesia, the patient can move his or her hand or wrist during the operation, which can sometimes help the surgeon to position a prosthesis correctly, for example, or to check that a tendon is sliding properly.
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How long does this anaesthetic work?
The anesthetic usually lasts between four and six hours. As the whole arm is not asleep, it is much easier for the patient to use his or her hand after the operation. This avoids a "dead arm" for 10 to 12 hours, which frequently occurs with plexus or axillary block anesthesia.
This revolutionary method appeared in France a few years ago. Dr. Couturier and his anesthetists, who know the technique inside out, were quick to adopt it.
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