Hypotensive Anaesthesia in Maxillofacial Surgery

Introduction. Deliberate hypotension (DH) is a widely used anaesthesia technique for decreasing intraoperative bleeding and improving the visibility of the operating field. Orofacial region has rich blood supply, therefore adequate bleeding management is needed. Methods. A literature search was performed using the search terms and was limited to English language. We used specific databases for our literature search. Discussion. The positive effect of DH is associated with mechanism of action leading to reduction of blood loss and reduced blood transfusion rate, accompanied by proper pain management. However, adverse effects are distinguishable, although the presentation completely depends on the hypotensive anaesthetic used for induction of DH. Conclusion. The application of controlled hypotension in maxillofacial surgery is highly advisable. Despite the positive effects, constant monitoring of the vital signs and drug induced side effects in perioperative period is needed.