Introduccion: La cirugia artroscopica de rodilla realizada ambulatoriamente impone el reto de encontrar la tecnica anestesica mas adecuada para este tipo de procedimiento. La tecnica usada debe conllevar a una rapida 1:1 segura recuperacion, brindar buen control del dolor en el postoperatorio e incrementar la satisfaccion del paciente. Objetivo: Comparar la anestesia general versus anestesia regional (bloqueo de nervio periferico de los nervios ciatico iabordaje posterior!. femoral y obturador) en cirugia artroscopica de rodilla en terminos de control del dolor. tiempo para el alta hospitalaria y satisfaccion general del paciente, entre otros. Metodos: Realizamos un estudio clinico, aleatorizado no cegado. La muestra incluyo todos los pacientes con cirugia artroscopica de rodilla ambulatoria efectuadas en la Clinica CES durante 2005. Resultados: No hubo diferencia estadistica mente significativa en las caracteristicas demograficas, ni en el tiempo intraoperatorio entre los grupos. El tiempo de estancia promedio en la unidad de cuidados postanestesicos fue significativamente menor en el grupo de anestesia regional (15 vs 78 min, p<0.05). El grupo de anestesia regional no requirio ningun suplemento analgesico. Todos los pacientes de este grupo tuvieron puntajes de dolor VAS menor a 3 una hora despues de cirugia, mientras que el 56 % de los pacientes en el grupo de anestesia general tuvo puntajes de dolor VAS mayores de 5 y requirieron suplemento analgesico. En forma significativa, el grupo de anestesia regional manifesto un mayor grado de satisfaccion con la tecnica anestesica empleada, que el grupo de anestesia general. Hubo una mayor incidencia de nauseas y vomito postoperatorio y un costo anestesico mas elevado en el grupo de anestesia general. pero dado el tamano de la muestra, la diferencia no fue estadisticamente significativa para estas variables. Conclusiones: Los resultados sugieren que la anestesia regional para cirugia artroscopica de rodilla provee mejor analgesia postoperatoria, un alta hospitalaria mas temprana, y un mayor grado de satisfaccion del paciente que la anestesia general. La anestesia regional tambien parece facilitar la rehabilitacion temprana y podria proveer buen cuidado a un menor costo. ABSTRACT Background: Arthroscopic surgical procedures on the knee are now frequently performed and there is still no agreement as to what is the best anesthesia technique for them. Any anesthetic technique used should bring fast and safe recovery, accompanied by good postoperative pain control and good patient satisfaction, all very important goals of ambulatory anesthesia. Objective: The goal of the study was to compare general versus regional anesthesia (sciatic, femoral and obturator nerve blocks) in terms of pain control, time to discharge and overall patient satisfaction among others. Methods: We conducted a randomized, non-blinded, clinical essay. The sample included all patients scheduled for arthroscopic knee surgery at Clinica CES that met inclusion criteria, during the period of time that the study was performed. Results: There were no significant differences in demographic characteristics. or intraoperative time between groups. Time spent in post anesthesia care unit was significantly lower in the group where regional anesthesia was used (15 vs. 78 minutes. p<O.05). Patients in the regional anesthesia group also did not require supplemental analgesia and were discharged earlier. In fact. all the patients in regional anesthesia group had VAS Pain Scores less than 3 one hour after surgery, while 56 % of the patients in the general anesthesia group had pain scores above 5 and required supplemental analgesia. There were higher incidence of postoperative nausea and vomit and greater anesthesia related costs in general anesthesia group. Regional anesthesia patients were more satisfied with the anesthetic technique used than the general anesthesia ones. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that regional anesthesia for ambulatory arthroscopy knee surgery provides better postoperative analgesia. earlier discharge and better patient satisfaction than general anesthesia. Regional anesthesia also seems to facilitate early rehabilitation and could provide good care at lower cost.