Cost Comparison and Early Postoperative Outcomes of Wide-Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet (WALANT) Versus General Anesthesia in Arthroscopic Meniscal Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Cost Comparison and Early Postoperative Outcomes of Wide-Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet (WALANT) Versus General Anesthesia in Arthroscopic Meniscal Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Cost Comparison and Early Postoperative Outcomes of Wide-Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet (WALANT) Versus General Anesthesia in Arthroscopic Meniscal Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study Kecheng Zhang, Qingwen Xu, Gang Zhou, Changchang You, Fenqi Luo, and 5 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9530416/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background : Wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) has demonstrated significant cost savings and improved patient experience in hand and upper extremity surgery. However, its economic value in arthroscopic knee surgery, particularly in meniscal procedures, remains poorly characterized. This study aimed to compare hospital costs, early postoperative pain trajectories, and functional recovery between WALANT and general anesthesia (GA) in patients undergoing arthroscopic meniscal surgery. Methods : A single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted on 39 consecutive patients undergoing arthroscopic meniscal surgery (GA, n=25; WALANT, n=14). The primary outcomes were total hospitalization cost and the proportion of anesthesia cost relative to total cost. Secondary outcomes included postoperative pain (visual analogue scale [VAS]) at four time points (immediate, 6h, 12h, 24h), and early recovery indicators. Costs were categorized into four domains: perioperative evaluation, anesthesia, surgical and intraoperative consumables, and hospitalization/nursing care. Stratified analyses by surgical type (meniscal repair vs. meniscectomy) were performed. Results : Anesthesia cost was considerably lower in the WALANT group (CNY 63.53 ± 29.76 vs. CNY 1,753.68 ± 188.61; p<0.001), and the proportion of anesthesia cost relative to total cost was 0.62 ± 0.30% vs. 14.09 ± 3.26% (p<0.001). Total hospitalization costs were significantly lower in the WALANT group (CNY 10,303.00 ± 2,217.00 vs. CNY 12,956.00 ± 2,608.00; p=0.003). WALANT patients demonstrated significantly lower immediate postoperative pain (VAS: 0.50 ± 0.90 vs. 2.90 ± 1.60; p<0.001), though pain scores converged at 6h, 12h, and 24h. Stratified analyses confirmed consistent anesthesia cost reductions in both the meniscal repair and meniscectomy subgroups. Conclusions : In selected patients undergoing arthroscopic meniscal surgery, WALANT was associated with significantly lower anesthesia-related expenditure and total hospitalization costs while providing superior immediate postoperative pain control compared with GA. These findings support WALANT as an economically advantageous and clinically feasible alternative in selected patients. Wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) knee arthroscopy meniscal surgery cost analysis postoperative pain Introduction Arthroscopic meniscal surgery is among the most frequently performed minimally invasive procedures in orthopedics worldwide. The shift toward day-surgery pathways and enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols has generated increasing interest in reducing the anesthetic burden associated with these procedures[ 14 , 22 ]. Conventional anesthetic approaches to knee arthroscopy, including general anesthesia (GA) and spinal anesthesia (SA), although well-established, carry inherent resource costs. These include the involvement of dedicated anesthesiologists, induction agents, airway management equipment, post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) utilization, and extended postoperative monitoring, all of which contribute to the overall cost and complexity of what is, in many cases, a straightforward outpatient procedure[ 21 ]. Furthermore, GA-based or SA-based knee arthroscopy typically requires the use of a pneumatic tourniquet for surgical hemostasis. Although tourniquets provide an effective bloodless field, their use is associated with ischemia-reperfusion injury and may predispose patients to venous thromboembolism[ 11 , 23 ]. Conventional local anesthesia has historically been considered a viable option for knee arthroscopy in selected patients, offering potential reductions in treatment costs and recovery time. However, the technique was limited by a comparatively higher risk of intraoperative pain, particularly during more demanding steps such as partial meniscal resection or capsular manipulation[ 19 , 20 ]. Prior comparative studies have demonstrated that intraarticular anesthetic techniques are technically feasible in the majority of elective knee arthroscopic procedures, including those involving partial meniscal resection[ 1 , 12 ]. In a study by Jacobson et al., 92% of elective knee arthroscopies were successfully performed under local anesthesia, with patients reporting high satisfaction and reduced postoperative discomfort compared with GA[ 12 ]. The wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) technique, pioneered by Lalonde and colleagues, extends this principle by combining dilute lidocaine with epinephrine and the buffer agent sodium bicarbonate to achieve painless injection, local analgesia and hemostasis without a tourniquet, while maintaining the patient in a fully alert and cooperative state.[ 10 , 11 ] The epinephrine-induced vasoconstriction serves as a physiological hemostatic substitute for the mechanical tourniquet, providing a clear operative field while preserving limb perfusion and avoiding the perioperative effects of tourniquet-induced ischemia. Initially popularized in hand and upper extremity surgery, WALANT has demonstrated compelling economic advantages: avoidance of anesthesiologist involvement, elimination of PACU requirements, and substantially shorter perioperative stay[ 2 , 3 , 6 ]. Bravo et al. estimated that shifting hand surgery from the main operating room to a procedure room using WALANT could reduce direct costs by up to 77% per case[ 2 ]. Despite these encouraging data from hand surgery, the application of WALANT principles to knee arthroscopy, and specifically to arthroscopic meniscal procedures, remains incompletely studied. Emerging reports on in-office needle arthroscopy suggest that meniscal pathology can be assessed and addressed under local anesthesia with adequate patient tolerance[ 7 ]. However, a direct economic comparison between WALANT and GA in consecutive meniscal surgery patients, using real-world institutional billing data, has not been reported. The present study was designed to address this gap. We compared total hospitalization costs, itemized cost structure, and early postoperative outcomes between WALANT and GA in a consecutive series of patients undergoing arthroscopic meniscal surgery at a single tertiary center. We hypothesized that WALANT would be associated with substantially reduced anesthesia-related expenditure, lower total costs, superior immediate postoperative pain control relative to GA. Methods Study Design and Setting This single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary-care teaching hospital. Consecutive patients who underwent arthroscopic meniscal surgery between February 2025 to July 2025 were enrolled. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board, and individual informed consent was waived given the retrospective nature of the analysis. All patients who underwent WALANT procedures provided specific written informed consent prior to surgery, as required by the institutional protocol for novel anesthesia applications. This study is retrospective and non-randomized; therefore, selection bias cannot be excluded. Participants Eligible patients were adults (≥ 18 years) with symptomatic grade III meniscal pathology confirmed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) who underwent arthroscopic meniscal repair or partial meniscectomy. Patients were excluded if they underwent simultaneous major ligamentous reconstruction, had prior ipsilateral knee surgery within 12 months, had systemic disease precluding outpatient day surgery, or had incomplete billing records. The choice of anesthesia (WALANT vs. GA) was based on a shared decision-making process between the surgeon, anesthesiologist, and patient, incorporating patient preference, expected surgical complexity, and clinical assessment. WALANT Protocol The WALANT technique was administered as described by Lalonde. Briefly, a tumescent infiltration solution comprising 1% lidocaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine and 8.4% sodium bicarbonate buffer (10:1 ratio) was injected into the subcutaneous tissue and joint capsule 30 to 60 minutes before incision. In addition, 20 mL of 0.5% ropivacaine was instilled into the knee joint cavity under ultrasound guidance to achieve intraarticular analgesia, allowing sufficient time for vasoconstriction and anesthetic diffusion. Epinephrine at a concentration of 0.3–0.5 mg/L was added to the arthroscopic irrigation fluid to enhance intraoperative hemostasis and maintain a clear operative field. No sedation, general anesthesia, or regional nerve block was administered. Supplemental infiltration of dilute lidocaine was applied intraoperatively at the meniscal repair or tear site as needed. A standard knee arthroscopy setup was used; the leg was positioned supine without tourniquet application. GA Protocol Patients in the GA group received standardized general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation or laryngeal mask airway, including intravenous induction agents (propofol or etomidate), opioid analgesia, and inhalational maintenance. A pneumatic tourniquet was used in all GA cases. Postoperatively, all GA patients were monitored in the PACU according to institutional protocol until discharge criteria were met. Outcome Measures The primary economic outcomes were: (1) anesthesia-related cost (CNY); (2) total hospitalization cost (CNY); and (3) the proportion of anesthesia cost relative to total cost (%). Costs were derived from institutional billing data and categorized into four domains: (1) perioperative evaluation (laboratory tests and imaging); (2) anesthesia (drugs, services, and monitoring); (3) surgical procedure and intraoperative consumables; and (4) hospitalization and nursing care (reported as per-day cost). All costs are expressed in Chinese Yuan (CNY) for the same calendar period without inflation adjustment. Secondary outcomes included: postoperative pain assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS; 0–10 cm) at four time points (immediate postoperative, 6h, 12h, and 24h); early functional recovery (ability to bear weight on the same day as surgery); WALANT feasibility; and perioperative adverse events. Stratified Analysis A prespecified subgroup analysis stratified by surgical type (meniscal repair vs. partial meniscectomy) was performed for all cost outcomes. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to evaluate the robustness of findings. Statistical Analysis Normality of continuous variables was assessed using the Shapiro–Wilk test. Normally distributed data are presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD) and compared using the independent-samples t-test (or Welch’s t-test for unequal variances). Non-normally distributed data are presented as median (interquartile range [IQR]) and compared using the Mann–Whitney U test. Categorical variables are expressed as frequency and percentage and compared using Fisher’s exact test or the chi-squared test, as appropriate. Ordinal variables (Kellgren–Lawrence grade, meniscal degeneration grade) were compared using the Mann–Whitney U test. A two-tailed p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Propensity score matching was not performed due to the small sample size, which is a limitation. All analyses were performed using SPSS version 27.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Results Patient Characteristics Thirty-nine patients were included: 25 in the GA group and 14 in the WALANT group. Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics are summarized in Table 1. There were no significant differences between groups in age (43.70 ± 16.10 vs. 49.60 ± 13.60 years; p=0.258), sex (female: 40.0% vs. 50.0%; p=0.738), body mass index (BMI) (23.40 ± 4.10 vs. 23.40 ± 3.00 kg/m²; p=0.984), pain duration (16.20 ± 31.40 vs. 13.60 ± 23.40 months; p=0.714), or smoking status (p=0.424). Radiological severity (Kellgren–Lawrence grade; p=0.128), meniscal degeneration grade (p=0.317), extrusion status (p=1.000), and tear morphology (p=0.393) were also comparable between groups. The distribution of meniscal surgery type, meniscal repair (44.0% vs. 28.6%) versus partial meniscectomy (56.0% vs. 71.4%), did not differ significantly (p=0.544; Table 2). Preoperative VAS scores were similar in both groups (GA: 2.20 ± 1.40 vs. WALANT: 2.60 ± 0.90; p=0.324). Feasibility of WALANT No WALANT patient required tourniquet application. No cases of local anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST), surgical site infection, or other serious perioperative adverse events were recorded in either group. These findings are consistent with published WALANT feasibility data across multiple musculoskeletal procedures[16, 17]. Economic Outcomes Cost data are summarized in Table 3 (representative case-level itemization) and Table 4 (group-level comparison). Anesthesia-related expenditure was substantially lower in the WALANT group (CNY 63.53 ± 29.76 vs. CNY 1,753.68 ± 188.61; p<0.001), representing a 96.4% absolute reduction. This stark difference reflects the near-exclusive use of inexpensive local anesthetic agents (lidocaine, ropivacaine, epinephrine, sodium bicarbonate, and sodium bicarbonate) in WALANT, compared with the full armamentarium of intravenous induction agents, inhalational anesthetics, airway devices, and dedicated anesthesiology services required for GA. The proportion of anesthesia cost relative to total hospitalization cost was 0.62 ± 0.30% in the WALANT group compared with 14.09 ± 3.26% in the GA group (p<0.001). Total hospitalization costs were significantly lower in the WALANT group (CNY 10,303.00 ± 2,217.00 vs. CNY 12,956.00 ± 2,608.00; p=0.003), corresponding to a mean reduction of CNY 2,653.00 (20.5%) per case. Costs related to perioperative evaluation (CNY 1,264.00 ± 389.00 vs. CNY 1,441.00 ± 513.00; p=0.270), surgical and intraoperative consumables (CNY 7,930.00 ± 2,365.00 vs. CNY 8,458.00 ± 2,097.00; p=0.475), and daily hospitalization/nursing care (CNY 70.80 ± 4.50 vs. CNY 73.90 ± 7.70 per day; p=0.111) did not differ significantly between groups. Stratified Cost Analysis Stratified analyses by surgical type are presented in Table 5 (meniscal surgery type distribution) and Table 6 (stratified cost comparison). In the meniscectomy subgroup (GA n=14; WALANT n=10), WALANT was associated with significantly lower total cost (CNY 9,268.00 ± 1,359.00 vs. CNY 11,076.00 ± 1,494.00; p=0.006) and substantially lower anesthesia cost (CNY 55.46 ± 28.68 vs. CNY 1,746.37 ± 170.31; p<0.001). In the meniscal repair subgroup (GA n=11; WALANT n=4), the anesthesia cost reduction was similarly pronounced (CNY 83.70 ± 24.73 vs. CNY 1,762.99 ± 217.95; p=0.005), and perioperative evaluation costs were also lower in the WALANT group (CNY 652.00 ± 212.00 vs. CNY 1,137.00 ± 373.00; p=0.011); however, total cost did not reach statistical significance in this smaller subgroup (CNY 12,768.00 ± 1,996.00 vs. CNY 15,348.00 ± 1,477.00; p=0.074). The anesthesia cost proportion remained considerably lower in WALANT patients in both subgroups (repair: 0.68 ± 0.30% vs. 11.63 ± 2.22%; p=0.001; meniscectomy: 0.60 ± 0.31% vs. 16.02 ± 2.58%; p<0.001). Postoperative Pain and Early Recovery VAS pain scores at all assessed time points are detailed in Table 1. Immediate postoperative pain was significantly lower in the WALANT group (VAS: 0.50 ± 0.90 vs. 2.90 ± 1.60; p<0.001), consistent with the residual local anesthetic effect at the time of surgical completion. This near-complete early analgesia, with a mean VAS of only 0.50 in the WALANT group compared with 2.90 in the GA group, represents a clinically meaningful 82.8% reduction in immediate pain burden. At subsequent time points, VAS scores converged between groups: 6h (WALANT: 1.60 ± 1.00 vs. GA: 2.00 ± 1.30; p=0.394), 12h (WALANT: 1.60 ± 1.00 vs. GA: 2.00 ± 0.80; p=0.241), and 24h (WALANT: 1.90 ± 1.20 vs. GA: 1.60 ± 0.90; p=0.392), indicating that the pain advantage associated with WALANT is most pronounced in the immediate perioperative period and attenuates by 6 hours as the local anesthetic dissipates. All patients in the WALANT group were able to initiate full or partial weight-bearing activities immediately after the surgery, compared with delayed weight-bearing in GA patients who required PACU monitoring and recovery from systemic anesthetic effects. No WALANT patient reported intraoperative recall of pain during the procedure beyond the time of local anesthetic injection, and none required postoperative rescue intravenous opioids during the immediate recovery period. Discussion The principal findings of this study can be summarized in three points. First, wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) was technically feasible for arthroscopic meniscal surgery in appropriately selected patients (excluding those with high pain sensitivity, significant anxiety, or anticipated local anesthetic intolerance), with all WALANT cases successfully completed without conversion to general anesthesia. Second, WALANT was associated with a substantial 96.4% reduction in anesthesia-related costs and a clinically meaningful 20.5% decrease in total hospitalization costs compared with general anesthesia (GA), findings broadly consistent with the 77–94% range reported in hand surgery economic studies. Third, WALANT was associated with significantly better immediate postoperative pain control, with an 82.8% reduction in immediate VAS scores compared with GA, though this benefit diminished by 6 hours post-procedure. The feasibility of local anesthesia for knee arthroscopy has been documented in the literature for over two decades. Jacobson et al. demonstrated that 92% of elective knee arthroscopies, including diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, could be completed under local anesthesia alone, with high patient satisfaction and low rates of intraoperative discomfort[ 12 ]. Eriksson et al. prospectively randomized patients to intraarticular local anesthesia or GA for knee arthroscopy with planned partial meniscal resection and demonstrated equivalent surgical completion rates with preserved patient satisfaction in the local anesthesia group[ 10 ]. All WALANT cases in our series were successfully completed without conversion to general anesthesia, and patient selection and procedure complexity remain important determinants of WALANT feasibility. The application of WALANT principles to knee arthroscopy is further supported by emerging experience with in-office needle arthroscopy, in which partial meniscectomy has been demonstrated as technically feasible under local anesthesia with excellent patient tolerance[ 7 ]. The anatomical and physiological characteristics of the knee joint render it particularly amenable to WALANT. The knee is a confined, relatively avascular space with well-defined capsular boundaries, making it amenable to tumescent infiltration and effective intraarticular anesthesia. The synovial membrane and joint capsule are densely innervated by articular branches of the femoral, saphenous, and sciatic nerves, all of which are amenable to targeted local infiltration. Bajuri et al. demonstrated that WALANT is safe and effective for various lower limb orthopedic procedures, supporting the broader applicability of this technique beyond the hand[ 13 ]. A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis by Lawand et al. confirmed the safety profile of WALANT across diverse surgical contexts[ 18 ]. The most compelling economic finding of this study is the magnitude of anesthesia cost reduction achieved with WALANT. The 96.4% reduction in anesthesia expenditure (CNY 1,754 to CNY 64 per case) was primarily attributable to the elimination of anesthesiologist fees, intravenous induction agents, inhalational anesthetics, airway management devices, and dedicated post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) monitoring. The anesthesia cost proportion fell from 14.09% of total costs in the GA group to a negligible 0.62% in the WALANT group (p < 0.001), a more than 22-fold relative reduction. This anesthesia cost reduction drove an overall 20.5% decrease in total hospitalization cost (mean savings of CNY 2,653 per case; p = 0.003). These findings are broadly consistent with WALANT economic data from hand surgery settings. Bravo et al., in a comprehensive review of economic and environmental impact of WALANT, found that procedure-room WALANT reduced direct costs by 77–94% per case compared with main operating room GA cases, largely through elimination of anesthesiologist fees, PACU charges, and monitoring costs[ 2 ]. Codding et al. reported savings of over $ 1,000 per carpal tunnel release when WALANT replaced monitored anesthesia care (MAC) at an ambulatory surgery center[ 6 ]. Our data extend these economic principles to the knee arthroscopy context. The stratified analysis further refines this message: cost savings were statistically significant in the meniscectomy subgroup (p = 0.006) and showed a clear numerical trend in the repair subgroup (p = 0.074; limited by small sample size), while the anesthesia cost proportion remained substantially lower for WALANT in both subgroups. From a health systems perspective, the reduction in PACU utilization is a key, albeit unmeasured, secondary benefit in the current study. Several WALANT studies have documented PACU stay reductions of 30–60 minutes per case and significant improvements in operating room turnover efficiency[ 3 ]. The significantly lower immediate postoperative VAS scores in the WALANT group (0.50 ± 0.90 vs. 2.90 ± 1.60; p < 0.001) represent one of the most clinically meaningful advantages of this technique. The residual analgesic effect of WALANT typically persists for 6–8 hours after injection, providing a period of near-complete analgesia that allows patients to commence physiotherapy and weight-bearing immediately after surgery, without the disorientation, nausea, or motor weakness associated with systemic anesthetic recovery. This window of superior analgesia has important practical implications. WALANT patients in our cohort were uniformly able to bear weight immediately after surgery, facilitating immediate mobilization consistent with contemporary ERAS protocols for meniscal surgery. This functional advantage, though not monetized in the current analysis, represents a form of clinical value that extends beyond direct cost savings. The convergence of VAS scores at 6h, 12h, and 24h (all p > 0.05) indicates that WALANT does not result in “rebound pain” exceeding that experienced after GA as the local anesthetic dissipates, a concern occasionally raised by clinicians unfamiliar with the technique. This was also consistent with reports by Ozyurt et al., who demonstrated no significant difference in postoperative pain beyond 6 hours between local and GA groups in elective knee arthroscopy[ 1 ]. The avoidance of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is an additional benefit of WALANT that, while not formally measured in the current study, is well-established in the WALANT literature. Davison et al. reported that PONV requiring antiemetic treatment occurred in 67% of GA patients but only 5% of WALANT patients undergoing hand surgery, a disparity that prolongs PACU stay, increases nursing burden, and diminishes patient satisfaction[ 8 ]. Several ancillary benefits of WALANT merit consideration in the context of meniscal surgery. The ability to assess active knee range of motion, quadriceps activation, and the stability of the meniscus in the awake patient during surgery, similar to the utility of WALANT for intraoperative tendon tension assessment in hand surgery, may allow the surgeon to assess the repair effect of meniscus suturing before wound closure[ 16 ]. Additionally, because WALANT avoids systemic sedative and opioid agents, it eliminates the cognitive side-effects of general anesthesia, which are particularly relevant in elderly patients and those with pre-existing cognitive vulnerability. From a health systems perspective, the reduction in post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) utilization, through elimination of general anesthetic induction, airway management, and post-procedure recovery monitoring, represents a key secondary economic benefit of WALANT. Several WALANT studies in hand surgery have reported substantial reductions in PACU throughput time and associated staffing costs, which are relevant to the knee arthroscopy setting as well[ 2 ]. Appropriate patient selection is critical to the success of WALANT in knee arthroscopy. Ideal candidates are cooperative patients who have a clear understanding of the procedure, are free from heightened pain sensitivity, anxiety, or known allergy or intolerance to amide-type local anesthetics, and whose pathology does not require ligament reconstruction. Additionally, patients with coagulopathy or those receiving anticoagulation therapy should be carefully evaluated, as hemostasis in WALANT relies on epinephrine-induced vasoconstriction rather than pneumatic tourniquet compression, which may be less predictable in this population. Kurtzman et al. provide a comprehensive updated review of WALANT indications and contraindications across various anatomical sites, which informs the selection framework for knee arthroscopy applications[ 15 ]. It should also be noted that maintaining complete relaxation of the operative limb in awake patients can be challenging and may affect the surgeon’s intraoperative experience. Several limitations of this study warrant acknowledgment. First, the sample size is small (n = 39) and the study is underpowered for subgroup comparisons, particularly in the meniscal repair group. This study is retrospective and non-randomized; therefore, selection bias cannot be excluded. The choice of WALANT versus GA was based on shared decision-making, which may have resulted in systematic differences in patient characteristics not fully captured by the measured variables. Propensity score matching was not performed due to the small sample size, which is a limitation. Second, the cost analysis captures only direct institutional billing data from a single Chinese tertiary hospital and does not include indirect costs such as productivity loss, return-to-work time, caregiver burden, or societal costs, precluding formal cost-utility analysis with quality-adjusted life year (QALY) or incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) estimation[ 4 ]. The specific cost figures are inherently linked to China's national health insurance pricing system and may not be generalizable to other healthcare systems with different reimbursement structures. Third, only immediate perioperative outcomes were assessed; medium- and long-term functional outcomes, including knee joint functional recovery (e.g., Lysholm or IKDC scores) and meniscal healing rates, were not evaluated. Fourth, the concern regarding intraarticular chondrotoxicity of local anesthetics in knee arthroscopy has been raised in preclinical studies[ 5 , 9 ]. However, our study did not observe clinical manifestations of cartilage damage, and the dilute concentrations of ropivacaine used in the WALANT protocol may attenuate this risk. Fifth, it should also be noted that this study represents a cost comparison rather than a formal cost-effectiveness analysis, as QALYs and ICERs were not computed. Future studies incorporating formal cost-utility methodology are needed to establish the true cost-effectiveness of WALANT in this setting. The findings of this study support WALANT as a clinically feasible and economically advantageous anesthetic pathway for selected patients undergoing arthroscopic meniscal surgery. Appropriate candidacy criteria include: patient willingness and adequate position tolerance; single or limited portal arthroscopic procedure; no anticipated need for extensive capsular work; and the availability of a WALANT-trained surgical team. The combined advantages of substantially lower anesthesia costs, reduced total hospitalization costs, superior immediate pain control, and the reduction of perioperative evaluation costs through avoidance of tourniquet-related perioperative surveillance make WALANT a compelling alternative to GA in the elective meniscal surgery setting. The adoption of WALANT for knee arthroscopy requires a distinct learning curve that differs qualitatively from conventional GA-based surgery. While we did not quantitatively assess the learning curve in this study, insights from hand surgery literature suggest that surgeons transitioning from GA to WALANT must develop refined communication skills to provide continuous reassurance and guidance to the awake patient throughout the procedure. The reliance on epinephrine-induced hemostasis rather than a tourniquet, combined with the gradual absorption of intraarticular local anesthetic, requires patience during the pre-incision waiting period of at least 30 minutes for maximal vasoconstriction and analgesic effect. Surgical efficiency may be slightly reduced during the early phase of WALANT adoption; however, several studies in hand surgery have demonstrated that efficiency plateaus after approximately 20–30 WALANT cases, with operating times becoming comparable to GA-assisted procedures. Future research should address several key questions. A prospective randomized controlled trial (RCT) with larger sample sizes, with DVT incidence and formal cost-utility analysis (QALYs, ICERs) as primary endpoints, would provide the highest level of evidence. Comparative learning curve analysis between WALANT-naïve and WALANT-experienced surgical teams would inform implementation strategies. Medium- and long-term functional outcomes and meniscal healing rates should be incorporated as secondary endpoints in future studies. Finally, the extension of WALANT principles to other knee arthroscopy indications, such as chondroplasty or synovectomy, merits investigation. Conclusion In this small retrospective cohort, WALANT for arthroscopic meniscal surgery was associated with significantly lower anesthesia costs and superior immediate postoperative pain compared with GA. However, due to the non-randomized design and limited sample size, these findings should be interpreted as hypothesis-generating. Prospective randomized trials are warranted to confirm the cost-effectiveness and safety of wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet in arthroscopic meniscal surgery. Abbreviations WALANT: wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet, GA: general anesthesia, VAS: visual analogue scale, BMI: body mass index, ERAS: enhanced recovery after surgery, PACU: post-anesthesia care unit, SD: standard deviation, IQR: interquartile range, CNY: Chinese yuan, MRI: magnetic resonance imaging, IV: intravenous, OR: operating room, SA: spinal anesthesia, MAC: monitored anesthetic care, PONV: postoperative nausea and vomiting, LAST: local anesthetic systemic toxicity, LA: local anesthesia. Declarations Conflict of Interest Statement The authors declare no conflict of interest. Ethical Review Committee Statement This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Yichang Central People’s Hospital (No. 2025-010-01). Funding No applicable. Acknowledgements No applicable. Data availability statement The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. Author Contributions H.D. and KC.Z. completed the manuscript, QW.X. and G.Z. statistically analyzed the data, CC.Y. and FQ.L. prepared tables 1-3. XB.C. and KQ.S. prepared tables 4 and 5. ZY.X. and AH.S. prepared tables 6. All authors reviewed the manuscript. References Barroso Rosa S, James D, Matthews BD (2016) Is knee arthroscopy under local anaesthetic a patient-friendly technique? A prospective controlled trial. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol 26(6):633–638 Bravo D, Townsend CB, Tulipan J, Ilyas AM (2022) Economic and Environmental Impacts of the Wide-Awake, Local Anesthesia, No Tourniquet (WALANT) Technique in Hand Surgery: A Review of the Literature. Journal of Hand Surgery Global Online 4(6):456–463 Caggiano NM, Avery DM, Matullo KS (2015) The Effect of Anesthesia Type on Nonsurgical Operating Room Time. 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International Orthopaedics (SICOT) 45(12):3091–3100 Jacobson E, Forssblad M, Rosenberg J, Westman L, Weidenhielm L (2000) Can Local Anesthesia Be Recommended for Routine Use in Elective Knee Arthroscopy? A Comparison Between Local, Spinal, and General Anesthesia. Arthroscopy 16(2):183–190 Jerome JTJ, Surendran G, Kuppusamy T (2026) Hyperselective Neurectomy for Upper-Limb Spasticity: Clinical Outcomes From a Systematic Review. Hand (New York, N,Y)DOI: 10.1177/15589447261416116 Kehlet H, Wilmore DW (2008) Evidence-Based Surgical Care and the Evolution of Fast-Track Surgery. Annals of Surgery 248(2):189–198 Kurtzman JS, Etcheson JI, Koehler SM (2021) Wide-awake Local Anesthesia with No Tourniquet: An Updated Review. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - Global Open 9(3):e3507 Lalonde DH (2017) Conceptual origins, current practice, and views of wide awake hand surgery. J Hand Surg Eur Vol 42(9):886–895 Lawand J, Hantouly A, Bouri F, Muneer M, Farooq A, Hagert E (2024) Complications and side effects of Wide-Awake Local Anaesthesia No Tourniquet (WALANT) in upper limb surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. International Orthopaedics (SICOT) 48(5):1257–1269 Lawand J, Hantouly A, Bouri F, Muneer M, Farooq A, Hagert E (2024) Complications and side effects of Wide-Awake Local Anaesthesia No Tourniquet (WALANT) in upper limb surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. International Orthopaedics (SICOT) 48(5):1257–1269 Ravnihar K, Barlič A, Drobnič M (2014) Effect of Intra‐articular Local Anesthesia on Articular Cartilage in the Knee. Arthroscopy 30(5):607–612 Shaukat Y, Malik E, El-Khateeb H, Koeweiden E (2013) The role of local anaesthesia in knee arthroscopy. Journal of Orthopaedics 10(4):193–195 Stein BE, Srikumaran U, Tan EW, Freehill MT, Wilckens JH (2012) Lower-Extremity Peripheral Nerve Blocks in the Perioperative Pain Management of Orthopaedic Patients: AAOS Exhibit Selection. The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery-American Volume 94(22):e167-1–13 Thorlund JB, Hare KB, Lohmander LS (2014) Large increase in arthroscopic meniscus surgery in the middle-aged and older population in Denmark from 2000 to 2011. Acta Orthopaedica 85(3):287–292 Zhang W, Li N, Chen S, Tan Y, Al-Aidaros M, Chen L (2014) The effects of a tourniquet used in total knee arthroplasty: a meta-analysis. J Orthop Surg Res 9(1):13 Tables Table 1 . Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of the Patients . Variable GA (n=25) WALANT (n=14) p Value Demographics Age (years) 43.70±16.10 49.60±13.60 0.258 Sex, female, n(%) 10(40.0%) 7(50.0%) 0.738 BMI (kg/m²) 23.40±4.10 23.40±3.00 0.984 Duration of pain (months) 16.20±31.40 13.60±23.40 0.714 Smokers, n(%) 4(16.0%) 4(28.6%) 0.424 Disease characteristics KL grade (0/1/2/3/4) 8/14/3 2/8/4 0.128 Grade 0, n(%) 8(32.0%) 2(14.3%) Grade 1, n(%) 14(56.0%) 8(57.1%) Grade 2, n(%) 3(12.0%) 4(28.6%) Meniscal degeneration 0.317 Grade 1-2, n(%) 0(0.0%) 0(0.0%) Grade 3a, n(%) 15(60.0%) 6(42.9%) Grade 3b, n(%) 10(40.0%) 8(57.1%) Meniscal extrusion 1.000 No extrusion, n(%) 20(80.0%) 11(78.6%) Extrusion, n(%) 5(20.0%) 3(21.4%) Type of meniscus tear 0.393 Radial, n(%) 3(12.0%) 1(7.1%) Longitudinal, n(%) 3(12.0%) 0(0.0%) Flap, n(%) 2(8.0%) 0(0.0%) Horizontal, n(%) 7(28.0%) 4(28.6%) Complex, n(%) 10(40.0%) 9(64.3%) Preoperative scores Preoperative VAS 2.20±1.40 2.60±0.90 0.324 Postoperative VAS scores Postoperative immediate VAS 2.90±1.60 0.50±0.90 <0.001 Postoperative 6h VAS 2.00±1.30 1.60±1.00 0.394 Postoperative 12h VAS 2.00±0.80 1.60±1.00 0.241 Postoperative 24h VAS 1.60±0.90 1.90±1.20 0.392 Data are presented as mean±SD for continuous variables, and n(%) for categorical variables. Continuous variables were compared using independent samples t-test. Ordinal variables (KL grade, Meniscal degeneration) and non-normally distributed continuous variables were compared using Mann-Whitney U test. Categorical variables were compared using Fisher's exact test or Chi-square test. GA: General anesthesia; WALANT: Wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet; BMI: Body mass index; KL: Kellgren-Lawrence; VAS: Visual analogue scale. Table 2. Itemized cost breakdown for a representative WALANT group patient . Item Quantity Cost (¥) 1. Perioperative examinations ABO blood typing 1 12.00 C-reactive protein (CRP) measurement 1 24.00 DR film 14×17 in 1 6.99 Rh blood typing 1 18.00 Serum albumin (colorimetric method) 1 7.00 Anti-hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV, CLIA) 1 81.00 Bedside routine ECG (surcharge) 1 10.00 Color ultrasound computer report 2 12.00 Chest CT scan (single multi-slice, first) 1 165.00 Serum calcium (colorimetric method) 1 11.00 Serum triglycerides 1 10.00 Interleukin panel 1 80.00 Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR, automated) 1 9.00 Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT, automated) 1 18.00 Serum creatinine (enzymatic kinetic method) 1 21.00 Serum potassium 1 8.00 Rheumatoid factor (RF, immunoturbidimetry) 1 30.00 Serum chloride 1 8.00 Treponema pallidum-specific antibody (CLIA) 1 38.00 Serum sodium 1 11.00 Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) 1 6.00 Serum uric acid (UA, colorimetric method) 1 6.00 Urinalysis 1 10.00 Thrombin time (TT, automated) 1 18.00 Serum glucose (enzymatic method) 1 9.00 Complete blood count with 5-part differential (CBC) 1 27.00 Anti-HIV antibody (CLIA) 1 43.00 Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) risk screening and assessment 1 30.00 12-lead routine ECG 1 35.00 Digital radiography (DR) 4 260.00 Color Doppler ultrasonography of extremity vessels 1 112.00 Color Doppler ultrasonography of extremity vessels (per 2 additional vessels) 7 154.00 Cardiac color Doppler echocardiography 1 112.00 Prothrombin time (PT, automated) 1 14.00 Plasma fibrinogen (automated) 1 18.00 Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) 1 8.00 Serum LDL-cholesterol 1 9.00 Serum HDL-cholesterol 1 9.00 Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) 1 7.00 Serum bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻) 1 11.00 Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) 1 8.00 Serum direct bilirubin 1 8.00 Serum total bilirubin 1 8.00 Serum total protein 1 7.00 Serum cystatin C (turbidimetry) 1 45.00 Routine bacterial culture and identification 1 73.00 Multiple exposures on one film (per additional exposure) 1 5.00 Medical dry laser film 1 5.59 Hepatitis B e antibody (anti-HBe, CLIA) 1 25.00 Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg, CLIA) 1 25.00 Hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs, CLIA) 1 25.00 Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg, CLIA) 1 25.00 Hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc, CLIA) 1 25.00 Total cholesterol 1 10.00 Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) 1 37.00 Left ventricular function assessment 1 52.00 Subtotal 1861.58 2. Anesthesia Local infiltration anesthesia 1 50.00 Lidocaine hydrochloride injection 4 10.16 Ropivacaine hydrochloride injection 3 11.40 Epinephrine hydrochloride injection 5 18.20 Epinephrine hydrochloride injection 1 2.10 Subtotal 91.86 3. Surgical and intraoperative equipment/supplies Arthroscopic meniscectomy 0.6 900.00 Irrigation tubing, various types (self-pay) 1 9.60 Plasma knife/coblator 1 410.00 Arthroscopy use fee 1 660.00 Shaver blade (self-pay) 1 1300.00 Three-way stopcock (injectable) 2 9.60 IV infusion set, needleless 1 0.86 Arthroscopic knee debridement 1 1860.00 Supine positioning technique 1 174.00 Disposable IV catheter 1 8.00 Disposable drainage tube device (self-pay) 1 280.00 Disposable bipolar RF plasma surgical electrode (self-pay) 1 2500.00 Disposable syringe 1–5 mL 2 0.70 Subtotal 8112.76 4. Hospitalization and nursing care Triple-occupancy ward bed fee (Building 1) 4 151.20 Level I nursing care 1 20.00 Level II nursing care 3 36.00 Ward air-conditioning fee 4 16.00 Flurbiprofen gel patch 6 57.87 IV infusion (surcharge per additional group) 3 4.50 IV infusion (indwelling IV catheter) 1 10.50 IV injection/venipuncture (ward) 1 5.00 Central air-conditioning surcharge 4 8.00 Normal saline (0.9% NaCl) injection 4 12.40 Diosmin tablet (Maiziling) 20 42.00 Celecoxib capsule 12 8.19 Diclofenac sodium suppository 2 1.37 Hydrotherapy 2 50.00 Sodium bicarbonate injection 1 0.42 Glucosamine hydrochloride tablet 90 89.39 Disposable venous blood collection tube 8 7.84 Enoxaparin sodium injection 1 15.36 Inpatient consultation/examination fee (daily) 4 64.00 Cefuroxime sodium for injection 2 26.20 Subtotal 626.24 Total 10692.44 Costs are expressed in Chinese Yuan (¥). WALANT: wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet. Table 3. Itemized cost breakdown for a representative day-surgery GA group patient . Item Quantity Cost (¥) 1. Perioperative examinations Serum albumin (colorimetric method) 1 7.00 12-lead routine ECG 1 35.00 12-lead ECG (additional leads surcharge) 1 5.00 Color ultrasound computer report 1 6.00 Serum calcium (colorimetric method) 1 11.00 Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT, automated) 1 18.00 Serum creatinine (enzymatic kinetic method) 1 21.00 Serum potassium 1 8.00 Serum chloride 1 8.00 Serum sodium 1 11.00 Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) 1 6.00 Serum uric acid (UA, colorimetric method) 1 6.00 Thrombin time (TT, automated) 1 18.00 Serum glucose (enzymatic method) 1 9.00 Complete blood count with 5-part differential (CBC) 1 27.00 Digital radiography (DR) 2 100.00 Color Doppler ultrasonography of extremity vessels 1 112.00 Color Doppler ultrasonography of extremity vessels (per 2 additional vessels) 5 110.00 Prothrombin time (PT, automated) 1 14.00 Plasma fibrinogen (automated) 1 18.00 Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) 1 8.00 Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) 1 7.00 Serum bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻) 1 11.00 Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) 1 8.00 Serum direct bilirubin 1 8.00 Serum total bilirubin 1 8.00 Serum total protein 1 7.00 Serum cystatin C (turbidimetry) 1 45.00 Multiple exposures on one film (per additional exposure) 2 10.00 Subtotal 662.00 2. Anesthesia Flumazenil injection 1 8.98 Ciprofol injection 2 166.00 Atropine sulfate injection 2 1.14 Rocuronium bromide injection 1 13.38 Intraoperative anesthesia monitoring 2 100.00 General anesthesia 1 800.00 Sugammadex sodium injection 1 9.33 Sevoflurane (inhalation) 10 55.17 Esmolol hydrochloride injection 1 1.55 Ondansetron hydrochloride injection 1 10.30 Tetracaine hydrochloride gel 1 65.00 Nalbuphine hydrochloride injection 1 86.35 Phenylephrine hydrochloride injection 1 16.98 Urapidil hydrochloride injection 1 6.07 Penehyclidine hydrochloride injection 1 24.60 Disposable single-lumen laryngeal mask airway (self-pay) 1 258.00 Disposable anesthesia oxygen filter (self-pay) 1 60.00 Etomidate lipid emulsion injection 1 37.74 Remimazolam besylate for injection 1 40.50 Famotidine for injection 1 1.25 Remifentanil hydrochloride for injection 1 89.90 Sufentanil citrate injection 1 45.00 Subtotal 1897.24 3. Surgical and intraoperative equipment/supplies Arthroscopic meniscectomy 0.6 900.00 Irrigation tubing, various types (self-pay) 1 9.60 Plasma knife/coblator 1 410.00 Arthroscopy use fee 1 660.00 Shaver blade (self-pay) 1 1350.00 Three-way stopcock (injectable) 2 9.60 IV infusion set, needleless 1 0.86 Specialized blood collection needle 1 0.21 Arthroscopic knee debridement 1 1860.00 Supine positioning technique 1 174.00 Disposable IV catheter 1 8.00 Disposable bipolar RF plasma surgical electrode (self-pay) 1 2250.00 Disposable syringe 1–5 mL 3 1.02 Subtotal 7633.29 4. Hospitalization and nursing care Triple-occupancy ward bed fee (Building 5) 1 33.60 Level II nursing care 1 12.00 Betamethasone sodium phosphate injection 2 38.50 Ward air-conditioning fee 1 4.00 Flurbiprofen axetil injection 1 18.97 Flurbiprofen axetil injection 1 8.53 Compound sodium chloride injection (Ringer's solution) 2 11.00 IV infusion (surcharge per additional group) 4 6.00 IV infusion (indwelling IV catheter) 1 10.50 IV injection/venipuncture 1 5.00 Central air-conditioning surcharge 1 2.00 Normal saline (0.9% NaCl) injection 2 6.20 Celecoxib capsule 30 8.93 Specialized nutritional therapy (multivitamin-carbohydrate formula) 2 100.00 Inpatient consultation/examination fee (daily) 1 16.00 Subtotal 281.23 Total 10473.76 Costs are expressed in Chinese Yuan (¥). GA: general anesthesia. Table 4 . Cost comparison between the GA group and the WALANT group . Types of cost GA group (n=25) WALANT group (n=14) P value 1. Perioperative evaluation 1,441.00±513.00 1,264.00±389.00 0.270 2. Anesthesia 1,753.68±188.61 63.53±29.76 <0.001 3. Surgical and intraoperative consumables 8,458.00±2,097.00 7,930.00±2,365.00 0.475 4. Hospitalization and nursing care (per day) 73.90±7.70 70.80±4.50 0.111 Total cost 12,956.00±2,608.00 10,303.00±2,217.00 0.003 Anesthesia cost as a proportion of total cost (%) 14.09±3.26 0.62±0.30 <0.001 Note: Costs are expressed in Chinese Yuan (¥). Data are presented as mean±SD. GA: general anesthesia; WALANT: wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet. P values were calculated using the independent-samples t-test or Welch t-test. Table 5 . Distribution of meniscal surgery type between the GA group and the WALANT group . Variable GA group (n=25) WALANT group (n=14) χ² / Fisher's exact P value Meniscal surgery type χ² = 0.368 0.544 Meniscal repair 11 (44.0%) 4 (28.6%) Meniscectomy (no repair) 14 (56.0%) 10 (71.4%) Data are expressed as n (%). GA: general anesthesia; WALANT: wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet. P values were calculated using the χ² test or Fisher's exact test. Table 6 . Stratified cost comparison between the GA group and the WALANT group by meniscal repair status . Types of cost WALANT group (mean ± SD) GA group (mean ± SD) P value Meniscal repair subgroup (GA, n=11; WALANT, n=4) 1. Perioperative evaluation (¥) 652.00±212.00 1,137.00±373.00 0.011 2. Anesthesia (¥) 83.70±24.73 1,762.99±217.95 0.005 3. Surgical and intraoperative consumables (¥) 11,980.00±1,812.00 12,990.00±1,269.00 0.361 4. Hospitalization and nursing care, per day (¥) 51.00±5.00 49.00±3.00 0.235 Total cost (¥) 12,768.00±1,996.00 15,348.00±1,477.00 0.074 Anesthesia cost as a proportion of total cost (%) 0.68±0.30 11.63±2.22 0.001 Meniscectomy subgroup (GA, n=14; WALANT, n=10) 1. Perioperative evaluation (¥) 889.00±256.00 842.00±278.00 0.578 2. Anesthesia (¥) 55.46±28.68 1,746.37±170.31 <0.001 3. Surgical and intraoperative consumables (¥) 8,188.00±1,325.00 9,162.00±1,367.00 0.095 4. Hospitalization and nursing care, per day (¥) 50.00±3.00 51.00±3.00 0.651 Total cost (¥) 9,268.00±1,359.00 11,076.00±1,494.00 0.006 Anesthesia cost as a proportion of total cost (%) 0.60±0.31 16.02±2.58 <0.001 Costs are expressed in Chinese Yuan (¥). Data are presented as mean ± SD. GA: general anesthesia; WALANT: wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet. P values were calculated using the independent-samples t-test (normal distribution) or Mann–Whitney U test (non-normal distribution). Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9530416","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":630498114,"identity":"29ee1cb5-283e-4cb7-a6a2-fdb7899ecbb5","order_by":0,"name":"Kecheng Zhang","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"China Three Gorges Corporation (China)","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Kecheng","middleName":"","lastName":"Zhang","suffix":""},{"id":630498117,"identity":"5903c678-c8a7-46c1-8922-95a07cd61171","order_by":1,"name":"Qingwen Xu","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"China Three Gorges Corporation (China)","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Qingwen","middleName":"","lastName":"Xu","suffix":""},{"id":630498120,"identity":"199f6fd5-cf0b-40da-952d-7c6a0e1dfdaa","order_by":2,"name":"Gang Zhou","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"China Three Gorges Corporation (China)","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Gang","middleName":"","lastName":"Zhou","suffix":""},{"id":630498122,"identity":"cc762482-823d-4dc6-bccd-59e3d1ecdb52","order_by":3,"name":"Changchang You","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"China Three Gorges Corporation (China)","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Changchang","middleName":"","lastName":"You","suffix":""},{"id":630498124,"identity":"0a83375b-06fe-413f-8473-0b74cca19db5","order_by":4,"name":"Fenqi Luo","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Fuzhou University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Fenqi","middleName":"","lastName":"Luo","suffix":""},{"id":630498128,"identity":"1f5a5dc5-d238-4398-b5d1-35f740c376d3","order_by":5,"name":"Xiaobo Chen","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"China Three Gorges Corporation (China)","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Xiaobo","middleName":"","lastName":"Chen","suffix":""},{"id":630498131,"identity":"1da5fed4-d682-4523-a289-5f6b5d6f8a72","order_by":6,"name":"Kangquan Shou","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"China Three Gorges Corporation (China)","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Kangquan","middleName":"","lastName":"Shou","suffix":""},{"id":630498134,"identity":"c4e0b267-5250-4dbc-833b-f61c2ee25583","order_by":7,"name":"Zuyang Xi","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"China Three Gorges Corporation (China)","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Zuyang","middleName":"","lastName":"Xi","suffix":""},{"id":630498138,"identity":"6545964f-7ed0-4cc1-8097-82681082acce","order_by":8,"name":"Aihua Shu","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"China Three Gorges Corporation (China)","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Aihua","middleName":"","lastName":"Shu","suffix":""},{"id":630498140,"identity":"f1833aa8-248e-4281-b3a3-d8b885df2db1","order_by":9,"name":"Hanhao Dai","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA3klEQVRIiWNgGAWjYDAC9v4Pxj8ManjY5A8fOPDhBzFaeA4YFDNUHJPjl2BLPDizhxgtEg4GnxnOMBtLzuAxPszBRoQO/hkMiZsL29gSN9zu+XCYgYdBnl/sAAFLbjccNp7ZJpO44c7ZDYcLLBgMZ85OIGDNnYNtBrwgWw7kbjg8g4chweA2AS3yN5LZf/C2MQO15Dw4zMNGhBaDG2kMxjxg7+cwEKfF8MwZBsMZoEDmOWYADGQJwn6RO97DYPABFJXszY8/fPhhI88vTUALOpAgTfkoGAWjYBSMAuwAAPJXTN+hJUEpAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"","institution":"Fuzhou University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Hanhao","middleName":"","lastName":"Dai","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-04-26 08:25:04","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9530416/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9530416/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":108883744,"identity":"5fe3b271-b3d6-4a14-a7c0-af308dbc13a1","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-05-09 18:25:15","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":729564,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9530416/v1/a3d397c5-7641-42cd-abb1-b09eba84fe43.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCost Comparison and Early Postoperative Outcomes of Wide-Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet (WALANT) Versus General Anesthesia in Arthroscopic Meniscal Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[{"header":"Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eArthroscopic meniscal surgery is among the most frequently performed minimally invasive procedures in orthopedics worldwide. The shift toward day-surgery pathways and enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols has generated increasing interest in reducing the anesthetic burden associated with these procedures[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e22\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eConventional anesthetic approaches to knee arthroscopy, including general anesthesia (GA) and spinal anesthesia (SA), although well-established, carry inherent resource costs. These include the involvement of dedicated anesthesiologists, induction agents, airway management equipment, post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) utilization, and extended postoperative monitoring, all of which contribute to the overall cost and complexity of what is, in many cases, a straightforward outpatient procedure[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e21\u003c/span\u003e]. Furthermore, GA-based or SA-based knee arthroscopy typically requires the use of a pneumatic tourniquet for surgical hemostasis. Although tourniquets provide an effective bloodless field, their use is associated with ischemia-reperfusion injury and may predispose patients to venous thromboembolism[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eConventional local anesthesia has historically been considered a viable option for knee arthroscopy in selected patients, offering potential reductions in treatment costs and recovery time. However, the technique was limited by a comparatively higher risk of intraoperative pain, particularly during more demanding steps such as partial meniscal resection or capsular manipulation[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrior comparative studies have demonstrated that intraarticular anesthetic techniques are technically feasible in the majority of elective knee arthroscopic procedures, including those involving partial meniscal resection[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e]. In a study by Jacobson et al., 92% of elective knee arthroscopies were successfully performed under local anesthesia, with patients reporting high satisfaction and reduced postoperative discomfort compared with GA[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) technique, pioneered by Lalonde and colleagues, extends this principle by combining dilute lidocaine with epinephrine and the buffer agent sodium bicarbonate to achieve painless injection, local analgesia and hemostasis without a tourniquet, while maintaining the patient in a fully alert and cooperative state.[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e] The epinephrine-induced vasoconstriction serves as a physiological hemostatic substitute for the mechanical tourniquet, providing a clear operative field while preserving limb perfusion and avoiding the perioperative effects of tourniquet-induced ischemia. Initially popularized in hand and upper extremity surgery, WALANT has demonstrated compelling economic advantages: avoidance of anesthesiologist involvement, elimination of PACU requirements, and substantially shorter perioperative stay[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e]. Bravo et al. estimated that shifting hand surgery from the main operating room to a procedure room using WALANT could reduce direct costs by up to 77% per case[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDespite these encouraging data from hand surgery, the application of WALANT principles to knee arthroscopy, and specifically to arthroscopic meniscal procedures, remains incompletely studied. Emerging reports on in-office needle arthroscopy suggest that meniscal pathology can be assessed and addressed under local anesthesia with adequate patient tolerance[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHowever, a direct economic comparison between WALANT and GA in consecutive meniscal surgery patients, using real-world institutional billing data, has not been reported.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe present study was designed to address this gap. We compared total hospitalization costs, itemized cost structure, and early postoperative outcomes between WALANT and GA in a consecutive series of patients undergoing arthroscopic meniscal surgery at a single tertiary center. We hypothesized that WALANT would be associated with substantially reduced anesthesia-related expenditure, lower total costs, superior immediate postoperative pain control relative to GA.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Methods","content":"\u003cp\u003eStudy Design and Setting\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary-care teaching hospital. Consecutive patients who underwent arthroscopic meniscal surgery between February 2025 to July 2025 were enrolled. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board, and individual informed consent was waived given the retrospective nature of the analysis. All patients who underwent WALANT procedures provided specific written informed consent prior to surgery, as required by the institutional protocol for novel anesthesia applications. This study is retrospective and non-randomized; therefore, selection bias cannot be excluded.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eParticipants\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eEligible patients were adults (\u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;18 years) with symptomatic grade III meniscal pathology confirmed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) who underwent arthroscopic meniscal repair or partial meniscectomy. Patients were excluded if they underwent simultaneous major ligamentous reconstruction, had prior ipsilateral knee surgery within 12 months, had systemic disease precluding outpatient day surgery, or had incomplete billing records. The choice of anesthesia (WALANT vs. GA) was based on a shared decision-making process between the surgeon, anesthesiologist, and patient, incorporating patient preference, expected surgical complexity, and clinical assessment.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWALANT Protocol\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe WALANT technique was administered as described by Lalonde. Briefly, a tumescent infiltration solution comprising 1% lidocaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine and 8.4% sodium bicarbonate buffer (10:1 ratio) was injected into the subcutaneous tissue and joint capsule 30 to 60 minutes before incision. In addition, 20 mL of 0.5% ropivacaine was instilled into the knee joint cavity under ultrasound guidance to achieve intraarticular analgesia, allowing sufficient time for vasoconstriction and anesthetic diffusion. Epinephrine at a concentration of 0.3\u0026ndash;0.5 mg/L was added to the arthroscopic irrigation fluid to enhance intraoperative hemostasis and maintain a clear operative field. No sedation, general anesthesia, or regional nerve block was administered. Supplemental infiltration of dilute lidocaine was applied intraoperatively at the meniscal repair or tear site as needed. A standard knee arthroscopy setup was used; the leg was positioned supine without tourniquet application.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eGA Protocol\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePatients in the GA group received standardized general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation or laryngeal mask airway, including intravenous induction agents (propofol or etomidate), opioid analgesia, and inhalational maintenance. A pneumatic tourniquet was used in all GA cases. Postoperatively, all GA patients were monitored in the PACU according to institutional protocol until discharge criteria were met.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOutcome Measures\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe primary economic outcomes were: (1) anesthesia-related cost (CNY); (2) total hospitalization cost (CNY); and (3) the proportion of anesthesia cost relative to total cost (%). Costs were derived from institutional billing data and categorized into four domains: (1) perioperative evaluation (laboratory tests and imaging); (2) anesthesia (drugs, services, and monitoring); (3) surgical procedure and intraoperative consumables; and (4) hospitalization and nursing care (reported as per-day cost). All costs are expressed in Chinese Yuan (CNY) for the same calendar period without inflation adjustment.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSecondary outcomes included: postoperative pain assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS; 0\u0026ndash;10 cm) at four time points (immediate postoperative, 6h, 12h, and 24h); early functional recovery (ability to bear weight on the same day as surgery); WALANT feasibility; and perioperative adverse events.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eStratified Analysis\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA prespecified subgroup analysis stratified by surgical type (meniscal repair vs. partial meniscectomy) was performed for all cost outcomes. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to evaluate the robustness of findings.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eStatistical Analysis\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eNormality of continuous variables was assessed using the Shapiro\u0026ndash;Wilk test. Normally distributed data are presented as mean\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;standard deviation (SD) and compared using the independent-samples t-test (or Welch\u0026rsquo;s t-test for unequal variances). Non-normally distributed data are presented as median (interquartile range [IQR]) and compared using the Mann\u0026ndash;Whitney U test. Categorical variables are expressed as frequency and percentage and compared using Fisher\u0026rsquo;s exact test or the chi-squared test, as appropriate. Ordinal variables (Kellgren\u0026ndash;Lawrence grade, meniscal degeneration grade) were compared using the Mann\u0026ndash;Whitney U test. A two-tailed p-value\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05 was considered statistically significant. Propensity score matching was not performed due to the small sample size, which is a limitation. All analyses were performed using SPSS version 27.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Results","content":"\u003cp\u003ePatient Characteristics\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThirty-nine patients were included: 25 in the GA group and 14 in the WALANT group. Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics are summarized in Table 1. There were no significant differences between groups in age (43.70 \u0026plusmn; 16.10 vs. 49.60 \u0026plusmn; 13.60 years; p=0.258), sex (female: 40.0% vs. 50.0%; p=0.738), body mass index (BMI) (23.40 \u0026plusmn; 4.10 vs. 23.40 \u0026plusmn; 3.00 kg/m\u0026sup2;; p=0.984), pain duration (16.20 \u0026plusmn; 31.40 vs. 13.60 \u0026plusmn; 23.40 months; p=0.714), or smoking status (p=0.424). Radiological severity (Kellgren\u0026ndash;Lawrence grade; p=0.128), meniscal degeneration grade (p=0.317), extrusion status (p=1.000), and tear morphology (p=0.393) were also comparable between groups. The distribution of meniscal surgery type, meniscal repair (44.0% vs. 28.6%) versus partial meniscectomy (56.0% vs. 71.4%), did not differ significantly (p=0.544; Table 2). Preoperative VAS scores were similar in both groups (GA: 2.20 \u0026plusmn; 1.40 vs. WALANT: 2.60 \u0026plusmn; 0.90; p=0.324).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFeasibility of WALANT\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo WALANT patient required tourniquet application. No cases of local anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST), surgical site infection, or other serious perioperative adverse events were recorded in either group. These findings are consistent with published WALANT feasibility data across multiple musculoskeletal procedures[16, 17].\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEconomic Outcomes\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCost data are summarized in Table 3 (representative case-level itemization) and Table 4 (group-level comparison). Anesthesia-related expenditure was substantially lower in the WALANT group (CNY 63.53 \u0026plusmn; 29.76 vs. CNY 1,753.68 \u0026plusmn; 188.61; p\u0026lt;0.001), representing a 96.4% absolute reduction. This stark difference reflects the near-exclusive use of inexpensive local anesthetic agents (lidocaine, ropivacaine, epinephrine, sodium bicarbonate, and sodium bicarbonate) in WALANT, compared with the full armamentarium of intravenous induction agents, inhalational anesthetics, airway devices, and dedicated anesthesiology services required for GA. The proportion of anesthesia cost relative to total hospitalization cost was 0.62 \u0026plusmn; 0.30% in the WALANT group compared with 14.09 \u0026plusmn; 3.26% in the GA group (p\u0026lt;0.001).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTotal hospitalization costs were significantly lower in the WALANT group (CNY 10,303.00 \u0026plusmn; 2,217.00 vs. CNY 12,956.00 \u0026plusmn; 2,608.00; p=0.003), corresponding to a mean reduction of CNY 2,653.00 (20.5%) per case. Costs related to perioperative evaluation (CNY 1,264.00 \u0026plusmn; 389.00 vs. CNY 1,441.00 \u0026plusmn; 513.00; p=0.270), surgical and intraoperative consumables (CNY 7,930.00 \u0026plusmn; 2,365.00 vs. CNY 8,458.00 \u0026plusmn; 2,097.00; p=0.475), and daily hospitalization/nursing care (CNY 70.80 \u0026plusmn; 4.50 vs. CNY 73.90 \u0026plusmn; 7.70 per day; p=0.111) did not differ significantly between groups.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStratified Cost Analysis\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStratified analyses by surgical type are presented in Table 5 (meniscal surgery type distribution) and Table 6 (stratified cost comparison). In the meniscectomy subgroup (GA n=14; WALANT n=10), WALANT was associated with significantly lower total cost (CNY 9,268.00 \u0026plusmn; 1,359.00 vs. CNY 11,076.00 \u0026plusmn; 1,494.00; p=0.006) and substantially lower anesthesia cost (CNY 55.46 \u0026plusmn; 28.68 vs. CNY 1,746.37 \u0026plusmn; 170.31; p\u0026lt;0.001). In the meniscal repair subgroup (GA n=11; WALANT n=4), the anesthesia cost reduction was similarly pronounced (CNY 83.70 \u0026plusmn; 24.73 vs. CNY 1,762.99 \u0026plusmn; 217.95; p=0.005), and perioperative evaluation costs were also lower in the WALANT group (CNY 652.00 \u0026plusmn; 212.00 vs. CNY 1,137.00 \u0026plusmn; 373.00; p=0.011); however, total cost did not reach statistical significance in this smaller subgroup (CNY 12,768.00 \u0026plusmn; 1,996.00 vs. CNY 15,348.00 \u0026plusmn; 1,477.00; p=0.074). The anesthesia cost proportion remained considerably lower in WALANT patients in both subgroups (repair: 0.68 \u0026plusmn; 0.30% vs. 11.63 \u0026plusmn; 2.22%; p=0.001; meniscectomy: 0.60 \u0026plusmn; 0.31% vs. 16.02 \u0026plusmn; 2.58%; p\u0026lt;0.001).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePostoperative Pain and Early Recovery\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVAS pain scores at all assessed time points are detailed in Table 1. Immediate postoperative pain was significantly lower in the WALANT group (VAS: 0.50 \u0026plusmn; 0.90 vs. 2.90 \u0026plusmn; 1.60; p\u0026lt;0.001), consistent with the residual local anesthetic effect at the time of surgical completion. This near-complete early analgesia, with a mean VAS of only 0.50 in the WALANT group compared with 2.90 in the GA group, represents a clinically meaningful 82.8% reduction in immediate pain burden. At subsequent time points, VAS scores converged between groups: 6h (WALANT: 1.60 \u0026plusmn; 1.00 vs. GA: 2.00 \u0026plusmn; 1.30; p=0.394), 12h (WALANT: 1.60 \u0026plusmn; 1.00 vs. GA: 2.00 \u0026plusmn; 0.80; p=0.241), and 24h (WALANT: 1.90 \u0026plusmn; 1.20 vs. GA: 1.60 \u0026plusmn; 0.90; p=0.392), indicating that the pain advantage associated with WALANT is most pronounced in the immediate perioperative period and attenuates by 6 hours as the local anesthetic dissipates.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll patients in the WALANT group were able to initiate full or partial weight-bearing activities immediately after the surgery, compared with delayed weight-bearing in GA patients who required PACU monitoring and recovery from systemic anesthetic effects. No WALANT patient reported intraoperative recall of pain during the procedure beyond the time of local anesthetic injection, and none required postoperative rescue intravenous opioids during the immediate recovery period.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe principal findings of this study can be summarized in three points. First, wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) was technically feasible for arthroscopic meniscal surgery in appropriately selected patients (excluding those with high pain sensitivity, significant anxiety, or anticipated local anesthetic intolerance), with all WALANT cases successfully completed without conversion to general anesthesia. Second, WALANT was associated with a substantial 96.4% reduction in anesthesia-related costs and a clinically meaningful 20.5% decrease in total hospitalization costs compared with general anesthesia (GA), findings broadly consistent with the 77\u0026ndash;94% range reported in hand surgery economic studies. Third, WALANT was associated with significantly better immediate postoperative pain control, with an 82.8% reduction in immediate VAS scores compared with GA, though this benefit diminished by 6 hours post-procedure.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe feasibility of local anesthesia for knee arthroscopy has been documented in the literature for over two decades. Jacobson et al. demonstrated that 92% of elective knee arthroscopies, including diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, could be completed under local anesthesia alone, with high patient satisfaction and low rates of intraoperative discomfort[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e]. Eriksson et al. prospectively randomized patients to intraarticular local anesthesia or GA for knee arthroscopy with planned partial meniscal resection and demonstrated equivalent surgical completion rates with preserved patient satisfaction in the local anesthesia group[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAll WALANT cases in our series were successfully completed without conversion to general anesthesia, and patient selection and procedure complexity remain important determinants of WALANT feasibility. The application of WALANT principles to knee arthroscopy is further supported by emerging experience with in-office needle arthroscopy, in which partial meniscectomy has been demonstrated as technically feasible under local anesthesia with excellent patient tolerance[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e]. The anatomical and physiological characteristics of the knee joint render it particularly amenable to WALANT. The knee is a confined, relatively avascular space with well-defined capsular boundaries, making it amenable to tumescent infiltration and effective intraarticular anesthesia. The synovial membrane and joint capsule are densely innervated by articular branches of the femoral, saphenous, and sciatic nerves, all of which are amenable to targeted local infiltration. Bajuri et al. demonstrated that WALANT is safe and effective for various lower limb orthopedic procedures, supporting the broader applicability of this technique beyond the hand[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e]. A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis by Lawand et al. confirmed the safety profile of WALANT across diverse surgical contexts[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe most compelling economic finding of this study is the magnitude of anesthesia cost reduction achieved with WALANT. The 96.4% reduction in anesthesia expenditure (CNY 1,754 to CNY 64 per case) was primarily attributable to the elimination of anesthesiologist fees, intravenous induction agents, inhalational anesthetics, airway management devices, and dedicated post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) monitoring. The anesthesia cost proportion fell from 14.09% of total costs in the GA group to a negligible 0.62% in the WALANT group (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001), a more than 22-fold relative reduction. This anesthesia cost reduction drove an overall 20.5% decrease in total hospitalization cost (mean savings of CNY 2,653 per case; p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.003).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThese findings are broadly consistent with WALANT economic data from hand surgery settings. Bravo et al., in a comprehensive review of economic and environmental impact of WALANT, found that procedure-room WALANT reduced direct costs by 77\u0026ndash;94% per case compared with main operating room GA cases, largely through elimination of anesthesiologist fees, PACU charges, and monitoring costs[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e]. Codding et al. reported savings of over \u003cspan\u003e$\u003c/span\u003e1,000 per carpal tunnel release when WALANT replaced monitored anesthesia care (MAC) at an ambulatory surgery center[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e]. Our data extend these economic principles to the knee arthroscopy context.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe stratified analysis further refines this message: cost savings were statistically significant in the meniscectomy subgroup (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.006) and showed a clear numerical trend in the repair subgroup (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.074; limited by small sample size), while the anesthesia cost proportion remained substantially lower for WALANT in both subgroups. From a health systems perspective, the reduction in PACU utilization is a key, albeit unmeasured, secondary benefit in the current study. Several WALANT studies have documented PACU stay reductions of 30\u0026ndash;60 minutes per case and significant improvements in operating room turnover efficiency[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe significantly lower immediate postoperative VAS scores in the WALANT group (0.50\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.90 vs. 2.90\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.60; p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001) represent one of the most clinically meaningful advantages of this technique. The residual analgesic effect of WALANT typically persists for 6\u0026ndash;8 hours after injection, providing a period of near-complete analgesia that allows patients to commence physiotherapy and weight-bearing immediately after surgery, without the disorientation, nausea, or motor weakness associated with systemic anesthetic recovery.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis window of superior analgesia has important practical implications. WALANT patients in our cohort were uniformly able to bear weight immediately after surgery, facilitating immediate mobilization consistent with contemporary ERAS protocols for meniscal surgery. This functional advantage, though not monetized in the current analysis, represents a form of clinical value that extends beyond direct cost savings.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe convergence of VAS scores at 6h, 12h, and 24h (all p\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05) indicates that WALANT does not result in \u0026ldquo;rebound pain\u0026rdquo; exceeding that experienced after GA as the local anesthetic dissipates, a concern occasionally raised by clinicians unfamiliar with the technique. This was also consistent with reports by Ozyurt et al., who demonstrated no significant difference in postoperative pain beyond 6 hours between local and GA groups in elective knee arthroscopy[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e]. The avoidance of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is an additional benefit of WALANT that, while not formally measured in the current study, is well-established in the WALANT literature. Davison et al. reported that PONV requiring antiemetic treatment occurred in 67% of GA patients but only 5% of WALANT patients undergoing hand surgery, a disparity that prolongs PACU stay, increases nursing burden, and diminishes patient satisfaction[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSeveral ancillary benefits of WALANT merit consideration in the context of meniscal surgery. The ability to assess active knee range of motion, quadriceps activation, and the stability of the meniscus in the awake patient during surgery, similar to the utility of WALANT for intraoperative tendon tension assessment in hand surgery, may allow the surgeon to assess the repair effect of meniscus suturing before wound closure[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e]. Additionally, because WALANT avoids systemic sedative and opioid agents, it eliminates the cognitive side-effects of general anesthesia, which are particularly relevant in elderly patients and those with pre-existing cognitive vulnerability.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFrom a health systems perspective, the reduction in post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) utilization, through elimination of general anesthetic induction, airway management, and post-procedure recovery monitoring, represents a key secondary economic benefit of WALANT. Several WALANT studies in hand surgery have reported substantial reductions in PACU throughput time and associated staffing costs, which are relevant to the knee arthroscopy setting as well[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAppropriate patient selection is critical to the success of WALANT in knee arthroscopy. Ideal candidates are cooperative patients who have a clear understanding of the procedure, are free from heightened pain sensitivity, anxiety, or known allergy or intolerance to amide-type local anesthetics, and whose pathology does not require ligament reconstruction. Additionally, patients with coagulopathy or those receiving anticoagulation therapy should be carefully evaluated, as hemostasis in WALANT relies on epinephrine-induced vasoconstriction rather than pneumatic tourniquet compression, which may be less predictable in this population. Kurtzman et al. provide a comprehensive updated review of WALANT indications and contraindications across various anatomical sites, which informs the selection framework for knee arthroscopy applications[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e]. It should also be noted that maintaining complete relaxation of the operative limb in awake patients can be challenging and may affect the surgeon\u0026rsquo;s intraoperative experience.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSeveral limitations of this study warrant acknowledgment. First, the sample size is small (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;39) and the study is underpowered for subgroup comparisons, particularly in the meniscal repair group. This study is retrospective and non-randomized; therefore, selection bias cannot be excluded. The choice of WALANT versus GA was based on shared decision-making, which may have resulted in systematic differences in patient characteristics not fully captured by the measured variables. Propensity score matching was not performed due to the small sample size, which is a limitation. Second, the cost analysis captures only direct institutional billing data from a single Chinese tertiary hospital and does not include indirect costs such as productivity loss, return-to-work time, caregiver burden, or societal costs, precluding formal cost-utility analysis with quality-adjusted life year (QALY) or incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) estimation[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e]. The specific cost figures are inherently linked to China's national health insurance pricing system and may not be generalizable to other healthcare systems with different reimbursement structures. Third, only immediate perioperative outcomes were assessed; medium- and long-term functional outcomes, including knee joint functional recovery (e.g., Lysholm or IKDC scores) and meniscal healing rates, were not evaluated. Fourth, the concern regarding intraarticular chondrotoxicity of local anesthetics in knee arthroscopy has been raised in preclinical studies[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e]. However, our study did not observe clinical manifestations of cartilage damage, and the dilute concentrations of ropivacaine used in the WALANT protocol may attenuate this risk. Fifth, it should also be noted that this study represents a cost comparison rather than a formal cost-effectiveness analysis, as QALYs and ICERs were not computed. Future studies incorporating formal cost-utility methodology are needed to establish the true cost-effectiveness of WALANT in this setting.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe findings of this study support WALANT as a clinically feasible and economically advantageous anesthetic pathway for selected patients undergoing arthroscopic meniscal surgery. Appropriate candidacy criteria include: patient willingness and adequate position tolerance; single or limited portal arthroscopic procedure; no anticipated need for extensive capsular work; and the availability of a WALANT-trained surgical team. The combined advantages of substantially lower anesthesia costs, reduced total hospitalization costs, superior immediate pain control, and the reduction of perioperative evaluation costs through avoidance of tourniquet-related perioperative surveillance make WALANT a compelling alternative to GA in the elective meniscal surgery setting.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe adoption of WALANT for knee arthroscopy requires a distinct learning curve that differs qualitatively from conventional GA-based surgery. While we did not quantitatively assess the learning curve in this study, insights from hand surgery literature suggest that surgeons transitioning from GA to WALANT must develop refined communication skills to provide continuous reassurance and guidance to the awake patient throughout the procedure. The reliance on epinephrine-induced hemostasis rather than a tourniquet, combined with the gradual absorption of intraarticular local anesthetic, requires patience during the pre-incision waiting period of at least 30 minutes for maximal vasoconstriction and analgesic effect. Surgical efficiency may be slightly reduced during the early phase of WALANT adoption; however, several studies in hand surgery have demonstrated that efficiency plateaus after approximately 20\u0026ndash;30 WALANT cases, with operating times becoming comparable to GA-assisted procedures.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFuture research should address several key questions. A prospective randomized controlled trial (RCT) with larger sample sizes, with DVT incidence and formal cost-utility analysis (QALYs, ICERs) as primary endpoints, would provide the highest level of evidence. Comparative learning curve analysis between WALANT-na\u0026iuml;ve and WALANT-experienced surgical teams would inform implementation strategies. Medium- and long-term functional outcomes and meniscal healing rates should be incorporated as secondary endpoints in future studies. Finally, the extension of WALANT principles to other knee arthroscopy indications, such as chondroplasty or synovectomy, merits investigation.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eIn this small retrospective cohort, WALANT for arthroscopic meniscal surgery was associated with significantly lower anesthesia costs and superior immediate postoperative pain compared with GA. However, due to the non-randomized design and limited sample size, these findings should be interpreted as hypothesis-generating. Prospective randomized trials are warranted to confirm the cost-effectiveness and safety of wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet in arthroscopic meniscal surgery.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Abbreviations","content":"\u003cp\u003eWALANT: wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet, GA: general anesthesia, VAS: visual analogue scale, BMI: body mass index, ERAS: enhanced recovery after surgery, PACU: post-anesthesia care unit, SD: standard deviation, IQR: interquartile range, CNY: Chinese yuan, MRI: magnetic resonance imaging, IV: intravenous, OR: operating room, SA: spinal anesthesia, MAC: monitored anesthetic care, PONV: postoperative nausea and vomiting, LAST: local anesthetic systemic toxicity, LA: local anesthesia.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConflict of Interest Statement\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors declare no conflict of interest.\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthical Review Committee Statement\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis study was approved by the Ethics Committee of\u0026nbsp;Yichang Central People\u0026rsquo;s Hospital\u0026nbsp;(No. 2025-010-01).\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo applicable.\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgements\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo applicable.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eData availability statement\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor Contributions\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eH.D. and KC.Z. completed the manuscript, QW.X. and G.Z. statistically analyzed the data, CC.Y. and FQ.L. prepared tables 1-3. XB.C. and KQ.S. prepared tables 4 and 5. ZY.X. and AH.S. prepared tables 6. All authors reviewed the manuscript.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBarroso Rosa S, James D, Matthews BD (2016) Is knee arthroscopy under local anaesthetic a patient-friendly technique? A prospective controlled trial. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol 26(6):633\u0026ndash;638\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBravo D, Townsend CB, Tulipan J, Ilyas AM (2022) Economic and Environmental Impacts of the Wide-Awake, Local Anesthesia, No Tourniquet (WALANT) Technique in Hand Surgery: A Review of the Literature. Journal of Hand Surgery Global Online 4(6):456\u0026ndash;463\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCaggiano NM, Avery DM, Matullo KS (2015) The Effect of Anesthesia Type on Nonsurgical Operating Room Time. The Journal of Hand Surgery 40(6):1202-1209.e1\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChristensen TH, Bieganowski T, Malarchuk AW, Davidovitch RI, Bosco JA, Schwarzkopf R, Macaulay WB, Slover JD, Lajam CM (2023) Hospital Revenue, Cost, and Contribution Margin in Inpatient Versus Outpatient Primary Total Joint Arthroplasty. The Journal of Arthroplasty 38(2):203\u0026ndash;208\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChu CR, Izzo NJ, Papas NE, Fu FH (2006) In Vitro Exposure to 0.5% Bupivacaine Is Cytotoxic to Bovine Articular Chondrocytes. Arthroscopy 22(7):693\u0026ndash;699\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCodding JL, Bhat SB, Ilyas AM (2017) An Economic Analysis of MAC Versus WALANT: A Trigger Finger Release Surgery Case Study. Hand (New York, N,Y) 12(4):348\u0026ndash;351\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDaggett M, Tucker T, Monaco E, Redler A, Pettegrew J, Bruni G, Saithna A (2020) Partial Medial Meniscectomy Using Needle Arthroscopy and a Standardized Local Anesthetic Protocol. arthrosc techDOI: 10.1016/j.eats.2020.01.010\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDavison PG, Cobb T, Lalonde DH (2013) The Patient\u0026rsquo;s Perspective on Carpal Tunnel Surgery Related to the Type of Anesthesia: A Prospective Cohort Study. Hand (New York, N,Y) 8(1):47\u0026ndash;53\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDragoo JL, Braun HJ, Kim HJ, Phan HD, Golish SR (2012) The In Vitro Chondrotoxicity of Single-Dose Local Anesthetics. Am J Sports Med 40(4):794\u0026ndash;799\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEriksson E (2004) Arthroscopy and local anaesthesia and hop tests for control of functional deficits after ACL‐surgery. Knee surg sports traumatol arthrosc 12(5):343\u0026ndash;343\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHuang C-R, Pan S, Li Z, Ruan R-X, Jin W-Y, Zhang X-C, Pang Y, Guo K-J, Zheng X (2021) Tourniquet use in primary total knee arthroplasty is associated with a hypercoagulable status: a prospective thromboelastography trial. International Orthopaedics (SICOT) 45(12):3091\u0026ndash;3100\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJacobson E, Forssblad M, Rosenberg J, Westman L, Weidenhielm L (2000) Can Local Anesthesia Be Recommended for Routine Use in Elective Knee Arthroscopy? A Comparison Between Local, Spinal, and General Anesthesia. Arthroscopy 16(2):183\u0026ndash;190\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJerome JTJ, Surendran G, Kuppusamy T (2026) Hyperselective Neurectomy for Upper-Limb Spasticity: Clinical Outcomes From a Systematic Review. Hand (New York, N,Y)DOI: 10.1177/15589447261416116\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKehlet H, Wilmore DW (2008) Evidence-Based Surgical Care and the Evolution of Fast-Track Surgery. Annals of Surgery 248(2):189\u0026ndash;198\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKurtzman JS, Etcheson JI, Koehler SM (2021) Wide-awake Local Anesthesia with No Tourniquet: An Updated Review. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - Global Open 9(3):e3507\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLalonde DH (2017) Conceptual origins, current practice, and views of wide awake hand surgery. J Hand Surg Eur Vol 42(9):886\u0026ndash;895\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLawand J, Hantouly A, Bouri F, Muneer M, Farooq A, Hagert E (2024) Complications and side effects of Wide-Awake Local Anaesthesia No Tourniquet (WALANT) in upper limb surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. International Orthopaedics (SICOT) 48(5):1257\u0026ndash;1269\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLawand J, Hantouly A, Bouri F, Muneer M, Farooq A, Hagert E (2024) Complications and side effects of Wide-Awake Local Anaesthesia No Tourniquet (WALANT) in upper limb surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. International Orthopaedics (SICOT) 48(5):1257\u0026ndash;1269\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRavnihar K, Barlič A, Drobnič M (2014) Effect of Intra‐articular Local Anesthesia on Articular Cartilage in the Knee. Arthroscopy 30(5):607\u0026ndash;612\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShaukat Y, Malik E, El-Khateeb H, Koeweiden E (2013) The role of local anaesthesia in knee arthroscopy. Journal of Orthopaedics 10(4):193\u0026ndash;195\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStein BE, Srikumaran U, Tan EW, Freehill MT, Wilckens JH (2012) Lower-Extremity Peripheral Nerve Blocks in the Perioperative Pain Management of Orthopaedic Patients: AAOS Exhibit Selection. The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery-American Volume 94(22):e167-1\u0026ndash;13\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThorlund JB, Hare KB, Lohmander LS (2014) Large increase in arthroscopic meniscus surgery in the middle-aged and older population in Denmark from 2000 to 2011. Acta Orthopaedica 85(3):287\u0026ndash;292\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eZhang W, Li N, Chen S, Tan Y, Al-Aidaros M, Chen L (2014) The effects of a tourniquet used in total knee arthroplasty: a meta-analysis. J Orthop Surg Res 9(1):13\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"},{"header":"Tables","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTable 1\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of the Patients\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ctable border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 40.747%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVariable\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGA (n=25)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWALANT (n=14)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 13.4126%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ep Value\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 40.747%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDemographics\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 13.4126%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 40.747%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; Age (years)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e43.70\u0026plusmn;16.10\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e49.60\u0026plusmn;13.60\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 13.4126%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.258\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 40.747%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; Sex, female, n(%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e10(40.0%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e7(50.0%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 13.4126%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.738\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 40.747%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; BMI (kg/m\u0026sup2;)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e23.40\u0026plusmn;4.10\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e23.40\u0026plusmn;3.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 13.4126%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.984\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 40.747%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; Duration of pain (months)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e16.20\u0026plusmn;31.40\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e13.60\u0026plusmn;23.40\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 13.4126%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.714\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 40.747%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; Smokers, n(%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4(16.0%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4(28.6%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 13.4126%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.424\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 40.747%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDisease characteristics\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 13.4126%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 40.747%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; KL grade (0/1/2/3/4)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8/14/3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2/8/4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 13.4126%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.128\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 40.747%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; Grade 0, n(%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8(32.0%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2(14.3%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 13.4126%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 40.747%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; Grade 1, n(%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e14(56.0%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8(57.1%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 13.4126%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 40.747%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; Grade 2, n(%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3(12.0%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4(28.6%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 13.4126%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 40.747%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; Meniscal degeneration\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 13.4126%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.317\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 40.747%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; Grade 1-2, n(%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0(0.0%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0(0.0%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 13.4126%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 40.747%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; Grade 3a, n(%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e15(60.0%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6(42.9%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 13.4126%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 40.747%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; Grade 3b, n(%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e10(40.0%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8(57.1%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 13.4126%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 40.747%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; Meniscal extrusion\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 13.4126%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.000\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 40.747%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; No extrusion, n(%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e20(80.0%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e11(78.6%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 13.4126%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 40.747%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; Extrusion, n(%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5(20.0%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3(21.4%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 13.4126%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 40.747%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; Type of meniscus tear\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 13.4126%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.393\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 40.747%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; Radial, n(%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3(12.0%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1(7.1%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 13.4126%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 40.747%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; Longitudinal, n(%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3(12.0%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0(0.0%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 13.4126%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 40.747%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; Flap, n(%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2(8.0%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0(0.0%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 13.4126%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 40.747%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; Horizontal, n(%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e7(28.0%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4(28.6%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 13.4126%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 40.747%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; Complex, n(%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e10(40.0%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e9(64.3%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 13.4126%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 40.747%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePreoperative scores\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 13.4126%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 40.747%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; Preoperative VAS\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.20\u0026plusmn;1.40\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.60\u0026plusmn;0.90\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 13.4126%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.324\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 40.747%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePostoperative VAS scores\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 13.4126%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 40.747%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; Postoperative immediate VAS\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.90\u0026plusmn;1.60\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.50\u0026plusmn;0.90\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 13.4126%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 40.747%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; Postoperative 6h VAS\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.00\u0026plusmn;1.30\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.60\u0026plusmn;1.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 13.4126%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.394\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 40.747%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; Postoperative 12h VAS\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.00\u0026plusmn;0.80\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.60\u0026plusmn;1.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 13.4126%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.241\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 40.747%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; Postoperative 24h VAS\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.60\u0026plusmn;0.90\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 22.9202%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.90\u0026plusmn;1.20\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 13.4126%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.392\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eData are presented as mean\u0026plusmn;SD for continuous variables, and n(%) for categorical variables. Continuous variables were compared using independent samples t-test. Ordinal variables (KL grade, Meniscal degeneration) and non-normally distributed continuous variables were compared using Mann-Whitney U test. Categorical variables were compared using Fisher\u0026apos;s exact test or Chi-square test. GA: General anesthesia; WALANT: Wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet; BMI: Body mass index; KL: Kellgren-Lawrence; VAS: Visual analogue scale.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTable 2. Itemized cost breakdown for a representative WALANT group patient\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"\"\u003e\n \u003ctable border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"100%\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eItem\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQuantity\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCost (\u0026yen;)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e1. Perioperative examinations\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;ABO blood typing\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e12.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;C-reactive protein (CRP) measurement\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e24.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;DR film 14\u0026times;17 in\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6.99\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Rh blood typing\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e18.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Serum albumin (colorimetric method)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e7.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Anti-hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV, CLIA)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e81.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Bedside routine ECG (surcharge)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e10.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Color ultrasound computer report\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e12.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Chest CT scan (single multi-slice, first)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e165.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Serum calcium (colorimetric method)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e11.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Serum triglycerides\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e10.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Interleukin panel\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e80.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR, automated)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e9.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT, automated)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e18.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Serum creatinine (enzymatic kinetic method)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e21.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Serum potassium\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Rheumatoid factor (RF, immunoturbidimetry)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e30.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Serum chloride\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Treponema pallidum-specific antibody (CLIA)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e38.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Serum sodium\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e11.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Serum uric acid (UA, colorimetric method)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Urinalysis\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e10.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Thrombin time (TT, automated)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e18.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Serum glucose (enzymatic method)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e9.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Complete blood count with 5-part differential (CBC)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e27.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Anti-HIV antibody (CLIA)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e43.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) risk screening and assessment\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e30.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;12-lead routine ECG\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e35.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Digital radiography (DR)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e260.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Color Doppler ultrasonography of extremity vessels\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e112.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Color Doppler ultrasonography of extremity vessels (per 2 additional vessels)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e154.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Cardiac color Doppler echocardiography\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e112.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Prothrombin time (PT, automated)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e14.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Plasma fibrinogen (automated)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e18.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Serum LDL-cholesterol\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e9.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Serum HDL-cholesterol\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e9.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e7.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Serum bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e11.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Serum direct bilirubin\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Serum total bilirubin\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Serum total protein\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e7.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Serum cystatin C (turbidimetry)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e45.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Routine bacterial culture and identification\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e73.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Multiple exposures on one film (per additional exposure)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Medical dry laser film\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5.59\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Hepatitis B e antibody (anti-HBe, CLIA)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e25.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg, CLIA)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e25.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs, CLIA)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e25.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg, CLIA)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e25.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc, CLIA)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e25.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Total cholesterol\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e10.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e37.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Left ventricular function assessment\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e52.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSubtotal\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1861.58\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e2. Anesthesia\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Local infiltration anesthesia\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e50.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Lidocaine hydrochloride injection\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e10.16\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Ropivacaine hydrochloride injection\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e11.40\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Epinephrine hydrochloride injection\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e18.20\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Epinephrine hydrochloride injection\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.10\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSubtotal\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e91.86\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e3. Surgical and intraoperative equipment/supplies\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Arthroscopic meniscectomy\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e900.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Irrigation tubing, various types (self-pay)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e9.60\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Plasma knife/coblator\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e410.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Arthroscopy use fee\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e660.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Shaver blade (self-pay)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1300.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Three-way stopcock (injectable)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e9.60\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;IV infusion set, needleless\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.86\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Arthroscopic knee debridement\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1860.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Supine positioning technique\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e174.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Disposable IV catheter\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Disposable drainage tube device (self-pay)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e280.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Disposable bipolar RF plasma surgical electrode (self-pay)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2500.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Disposable syringe 1\u0026ndash;5 mL\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.70\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSubtotal\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e8112.76\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e4. Hospitalization and nursing care\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Triple-occupancy ward bed fee (Building 1)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e151.20\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Level I nursing care\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e20.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Level II nursing care\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e36.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Ward air-conditioning fee\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e16.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Flurbiprofen gel patch\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e57.87\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;IV infusion (surcharge per additional group)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4.50\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;IV infusion (indwelling IV catheter)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e10.50\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;IV injection/venipuncture (ward)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Central air-conditioning surcharge\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Normal saline (0.9% NaCl) injection\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e12.40\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Diosmin tablet (Maiziling)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e20\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e42.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Celecoxib capsule\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e12\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8.19\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Diclofenac sodium suppository\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.37\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Hydrotherapy\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e50.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Sodium bicarbonate injection\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.42\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Glucosamine hydrochloride tablet\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e90\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e89.39\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Disposable venous blood collection tube\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e7.84\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Enoxaparin sodium injection\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e15.36\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Inpatient consultation/examination fee (daily)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e64.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Cefuroxime sodium for injection\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e26.20\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSubtotal\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e626.24\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTotal\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e10692.44\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n \u003c/table\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCosts are expressed in Chinese Yuan (\u0026yen;). WALANT: wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTable 3. Itemized cost breakdown for a representative day-surgery GA group patient\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"\"\u003e\n \u003ctable border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"100%\" class=\"fr-table-selection-hover\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eItem\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQuantity\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCost (\u0026yen;)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1. Perioperative examinations\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSerum albumin (colorimetric method)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e7.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e12-lead routine ECG\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e35.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e12-lead ECG (additional leads surcharge)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eColor ultrasound computer report\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSerum calcium (colorimetric method)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e11.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eActivated partial thromboplastin time (APTT, automated)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e18.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSerum creatinine (enzymatic kinetic method)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e21.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSerum potassium\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSerum chloride\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSerum sodium\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e11.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eBlood urea nitrogen (BUN)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSerum uric acid (UA, colorimetric method)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eThrombin time (TT, automated)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e18.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSerum glucose (enzymatic method)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e9.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eComplete blood count with 5-part differential (CBC)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e27.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eDigital radiography (DR)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e100.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eColor Doppler ultrasonography of extremity vessels\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e112.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eColor Doppler ultrasonography of extremity vessels (per 2 additional vessels)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e110.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eProthrombin time (PT, automated)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e14.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePlasma fibrinogen (automated)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e18.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSerum alanine aminotransferase (ALT)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSerum alkaline phosphatase (ALP)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e7.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSerum bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e11.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSerum aspartate aminotransferase (AST)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSerum direct bilirubin\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSerum total bilirubin\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSerum total protein\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e7.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSerum cystatin C (turbidimetry)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e45.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMultiple exposures on one film (per additional exposure)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e10.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSubtotal\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e662.00\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2. Anesthesia\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFlumazenil injection\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8.98\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCiprofol injection\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e166.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAtropine sulfate injection\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.14\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eRocuronium bromide injection\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e13.38\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eIntraoperative anesthesia monitoring\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e100.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eGeneral anesthesia\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e800.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSugammadex sodium injection\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e9.33\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSevoflurane (inhalation)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e10\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e55.17\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eEsmolol hydrochloride injection\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.55\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eOndansetron hydrochloride injection\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e10.30\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTetracaine hydrochloride gel\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e65.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNalbuphine hydrochloride injection\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e86.35\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePhenylephrine hydrochloride injection\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e16.98\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eUrapidil hydrochloride injection\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6.07\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePenehyclidine hydrochloride injection\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e24.60\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eDisposable single-lumen laryngeal mask airway (self-pay)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e258.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eDisposable anesthesia oxygen filter (self-pay)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e60.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eEtomidate lipid emulsion injection\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e37.74\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eRemimazolam besylate for injection\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e40.50\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFamotidine for injection\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.25\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eRemifentanil hydrochloride for injection\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e89.90\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSufentanil citrate injection\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e45.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSubtotal\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1897.24\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3. Surgical and intraoperative equipment/supplies\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eArthroscopic meniscectomy\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e900.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eIrrigation tubing, various types (self-pay)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e9.60\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePlasma knife/coblator\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e410.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eArthroscopy use fee\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e660.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eShaver blade (self-pay)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1350.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eThree-way stopcock (injectable)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e9.60\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eIV infusion set, needleless\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.86\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSpecialized blood collection needle\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.21\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eArthroscopic knee debridement\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1860.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSupine positioning technique\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e174.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eDisposable IV catheter\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eDisposable bipolar RF plasma surgical electrode (self-pay)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2250.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eDisposable syringe 1\u0026ndash;5 mL\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.02\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSubtotal\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e7633.29\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e4. Hospitalization and nursing care\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTriple-occupancy ward bed fee (Building 5)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e33.60\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eLevel II nursing care\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e12.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eBetamethasone sodium phosphate injection\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e38.50\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eWard air-conditioning fee\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFlurbiprofen axetil injection\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e18.97\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFlurbiprofen axetil injection\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8.53\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCompound sodium chloride injection (Ringer\u0026apos;s solution)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e11.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eIV infusion (surcharge per additional group)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eIV infusion (indwelling IV catheter)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e10.50\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eIV injection/venipuncture\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCentral air-conditioning surcharge\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNormal saline (0.9% NaCl) injection\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6.20\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCelecoxib capsule\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e30\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8.93\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSpecialized nutritional therapy (multivitamin-carbohydrate formula)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e100.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eInpatient consultation/examination fee (daily)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e16.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSubtotal\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e281.23\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 66.7737%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTotal\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 15.0883%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.138%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e10473.76\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n \u003c/table\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCosts are expressed in Chinese Yuan (\u0026yen;). GA: general anesthesia.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e4\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e. Cost comparison between the GA group and the WALANT group\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"\"\u003e\n \u003ctable border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"100%\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 50%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTypes of cost\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.7086%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGA group\u003cbr\u003e\u0026nbsp;(n=25)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.7086%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWALANT group\u003cbr\u003e\u0026nbsp;(n=14)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 12.5828%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eP value\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 50%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1. Perioperative evaluation\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.7086%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1,441.00\u0026plusmn;513.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.7086%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1,264.00\u0026plusmn;389.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 12.5828%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.270\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 50%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2. Anesthesia\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.7086%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1,753.68\u0026plusmn;188.61\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.7086%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e63.53\u0026plusmn;29.76\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 12.5828%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 50%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3. Surgical and intraoperative consumables\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.7086%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8,458.00\u0026plusmn;2,097.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.7086%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e7,930.00\u0026plusmn;2,365.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 12.5828%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.475\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 50%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4. Hospitalization and nursing care (per day)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.7086%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e73.90\u0026plusmn;7.70\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.7086%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e70.80\u0026plusmn;4.50\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 12.5828%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.111\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 50%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTotal cost\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.7086%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e12,956.00\u0026plusmn;2,608.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.7086%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e10,303.00\u0026plusmn;2,217.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 12.5828%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.003\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 50%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAnesthesia cost as a proportion of total cost (%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.7086%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e14.09\u0026plusmn;3.26\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.7086%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.62\u0026plusmn;0.30\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 12.5828%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n \u003c/table\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNote: Costs are expressed in Chinese Yuan (\u0026yen;). Data are presented as mean\u0026plusmn;SD. GA: general anesthesia; WALANT: wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet. P values were calculated using the independent-samples t-test or Welch t-test.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e5\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e. Distribution of meniscal surgery type between the GA group and the WALANT group\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"\"\u003e\n \u003ctable border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"100%\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 33.8211%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVariable\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.374%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGA group (n=25)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.374%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWALANT group (n=14)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.374%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026chi;\u0026sup2; / Fisher\u0026apos;s exact\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 11.0569%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eP value\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 33.8211%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMeniscal surgery type\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.374%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.374%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.374%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026chi;\u0026sup2; = 0.368\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 11.0569%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e0.544\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 33.8211%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; Meniscal repair\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.374%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e11 (44.0%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.374%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4 (28.6%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.374%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 11.0569%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 33.8211%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp; Meniscectomy (no repair)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.374%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e14 (56.0%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.374%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e10 (71.4%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 18.374%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 11.0569%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n \u003c/table\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eData are expressed as n (%). GA: general anesthesia; WALANT: wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet. P values were calculated using the \u0026chi;\u0026sup2; test or Fisher\u0026apos;s exact test.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e6\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e. Stratified cost comparison between the GA group and the WALANT group by meniscal repair status\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"\"\u003e\n \u003ctable border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"100%\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 52.9595%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTypes of cost\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 17.6012%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWALANT group\u003cbr\u003e\u0026nbsp;(mean \u0026plusmn; SD)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 17.6012%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGA group\u003cbr\u003e\u0026nbsp;(mean \u0026plusmn; SD)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 11.838%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eP value\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 52.9595%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eMeniscal repair subgroup (GA, n=11; WALANT, n=4)\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 17.6012%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 17.6012%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 11.838%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 52.9595%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1. Perioperative evaluation (\u0026yen;)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 17.6012%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e652.00\u0026plusmn;212.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 17.6012%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1,137.00\u0026plusmn;373.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 11.838%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.011\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 52.9595%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2. Anesthesia (\u0026yen;)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 17.6012%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e83.70\u0026plusmn;24.73\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 17.6012%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1,762.99\u0026plusmn;217.95\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 11.838%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.005\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 52.9595%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3. Surgical and intraoperative consumables (\u0026yen;)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 17.6012%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e11,980.00\u0026plusmn;1,812.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 17.6012%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e12,990.00\u0026plusmn;1,269.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 11.838%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.361\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 52.9595%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4. Hospitalization and nursing care, per day (\u0026yen;)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 17.6012%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e51.00\u0026plusmn;5.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 17.6012%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e49.00\u0026plusmn;3.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 11.838%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.235\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 52.9595%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTotal cost (\u0026yen;)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 17.6012%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e12,768.00\u0026plusmn;1,996.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 17.6012%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e15,348.00\u0026plusmn;1,477.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 11.838%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.074\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 52.9595%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAnesthesia cost as a proportion of total cost (%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 17.6012%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.68\u0026plusmn;0.30\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 17.6012%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e11.63\u0026plusmn;2.22\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 11.838%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.001\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 52.9595%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eMeniscectomy subgroup (GA, n=14; WALANT, n=10)\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 17.6012%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 17.6012%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 11.838%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 52.9595%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1. Perioperative evaluation (\u0026yen;)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 17.6012%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e889.00\u0026plusmn;256.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 17.6012%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e842.00\u0026plusmn;278.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 11.838%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.578\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 52.9595%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2. Anesthesia (\u0026yen;)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 17.6012%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e55.46\u0026plusmn;28.68\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 17.6012%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1,746.37\u0026plusmn;170.31\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 11.838%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 52.9595%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3. Surgical and intraoperative consumables (\u0026yen;)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 17.6012%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8,188.00\u0026plusmn;1,325.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 17.6012%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e9,162.00\u0026plusmn;1,367.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 11.838%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.095\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 52.9595%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4. Hospitalization and nursing care, per day (\u0026yen;)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 17.6012%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e50.00\u0026plusmn;3.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 17.6012%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e51.00\u0026plusmn;3.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 11.838%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.651\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 52.9595%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTotal cost (\u0026yen;)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 17.6012%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e9,268.00\u0026plusmn;1,359.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 17.6012%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e11,076.00\u0026plusmn;1,494.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 11.838%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.006\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 52.9595%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAnesthesia cost as a proportion of total cost (%)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 17.6012%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.60\u0026plusmn;0.31\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 17.6012%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e16.02\u0026plusmn;2.58\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 11.838%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;0.001\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n \u003c/table\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCosts are expressed in Chinese Yuan (\u0026yen;). Data are presented as mean \u0026plusmn; SD. GA: general anesthesia; WALANT: wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet. P values were calculated using the independent-samples t-test (normal distribution) or Mann\u0026ndash;Whitney U test (non-normal distribution).\u003c/p\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT), knee arthroscopy, meniscal surgery, cost analysis, postoperative pain","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9530416/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9530416/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBackground\u003c/strong\u003e: Wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) has demonstrated significant cost savings and improved patient experience in hand and upper extremity surgery. However, its economic value in arthroscopic knee surgery, particularly in meniscal procedures, remains poorly characterized. This study aimed to compare hospital costs, early postoperative pain trajectories, and functional recovery between WALANT and general anesthesia (GA) in patients undergoing arthroscopic meniscal surgery.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMethods\u003c/strong\u003e: A single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted on 39 consecutive patients undergoing arthroscopic meniscal surgery (GA, n=25; WALANT, n=14). The primary outcomes were total hospitalization cost and the proportion of anesthesia cost relative to total cost. Secondary outcomes included postoperative pain (visual analogue scale [VAS]) at four time points (immediate, 6h, 12h, 24h), and early recovery indicators. Costs were categorized into four domains: perioperative evaluation, anesthesia, surgical and intraoperative consumables, and hospitalization/nursing care. Stratified analyses by surgical type (meniscal repair vs. meniscectomy) were performed.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eResults\u003c/strong\u003e: Anesthesia cost was considerably lower in the WALANT group (CNY 63.53 ± 29.76 vs. CNY 1,753.68 ± 188.61; p\u0026lt;0.001), and the proportion of anesthesia cost relative to total cost was 0.62 ± 0.30% vs. 14.09 ± 3.26% (p\u0026lt;0.001). Total hospitalization costs were significantly lower in the WALANT group (CNY 10,303.00 ± 2,217.00 vs. CNY 12,956.00 ± 2,608.00; p=0.003). WALANT patients demonstrated significantly lower immediate postoperative pain (VAS: 0.50 ± 0.90 vs. 2.90 ± 1.60; p\u0026lt;0.001), though pain scores converged at 6h, 12h, and 24h. Stratified analyses confirmed consistent anesthesia cost reductions in both the meniscal repair and meniscectomy subgroups.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConclusions\u003c/strong\u003e: In selected patients undergoing arthroscopic meniscal surgery, WALANT was associated with significantly lower anesthesia-related expenditure and total hospitalization costs while providing superior immediate postoperative pain control compared with GA. These findings support WALANT as an economically advantageous and clinically feasible alternative in selected patients.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Cost Comparison and Early Postoperative Outcomes of Wide-Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet (WALANT) Versus General Anesthesia in Arthroscopic Meniscal Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-04-28 06:36:23","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9530416/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"36c8b487-a781-48ea-bc42-a7904e31f162","owner":[],"postedDate":"April 28th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[{"type":"decision","content":"Rejected","date":"2026-05-09T18:07:05+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2026-04-30T01:56:54+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2026-04-30T01:56:31+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-05-09T18:24:50+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-04-28 06:36:23","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-9530416","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-9530416","identity":"rs-9530416","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}