Switching from a combined spinal-epidural (CSE) technique with intrathecal morphine to CSE with adductor canal block decreases pruritus and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) without sacrificing analgesia in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA), a pilot study has concluded.
However, the study noted that patients who received CSE with the adductor canal block had a trend toward increased rates of respiratory depression.