Hearing loss after spinal anesthesia is related to needle size.
Audiograms were performed preoperatively and 2 days postoperatively in 28 patients given spinal anesthesia for transurethral resection of the prostate. In 14 patients 22-gauge and in 14 patients 26-gauge spinal needles were used. Hearing loss of 10 dB or more at any frequency was observed in 13 of 14 patients in the 22-gauge group and in 4 of 14 patients in the 26-gauge group. There was a statistically significant reduction in hearing level in the low-frequency range in patients in whom the 22-gauge needle was used. Hearing loss was unilateral at five frequencies and bilateral at one frequency. No cases of postspinal headache occurred. Audiometry may be a more sensitive indication of cerebrospinal fluid leak than postspinal headache.
Fog
J
J
Department of Anesthesia, Eksjö-Nässjö Hospital, Sweden.
Wang
L P
LP
Sundberg
A
A
Mucchiano
C
C
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal; D001299:Audiometry; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011468:Prostatectomy; D011897:Random Allocation