D.3- Renal and orthopaedic lithotripsy area

This area has one fully equipped room (respirator with oxygen supply and anaesthetic gases, ECG, pulsoxymetry, and blood pressure) where urological explorations, transurethral resections (TUR), ESWL or Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (renal and orthopaedic lithotripsy) under anaesthesia 3 days a week. This area is attended by an anaesthesiologist whose responsibility is:

• To perform a preoperative assessment if the patient has not been previously seen in the consulting offices and to collect the specific Informed Consent Form from the patient.
• To attend scheduled surgery and/or urgent surgery in the area.
• To accompany the patient to the ICU after the anaesthetic/surgical procedure is completed.

The anaesthetic techniques used include sedation with propofol and remifentanyl or spinal anaesthesias (intradural or epidural), depending on the type of procedure performed.

In 2005, approximately 300 procedures under anaesthesia were carried out at this unit with no complications.