Spinal anaesthesia for day case surgery.
Postoperative morbidity in fifty day care patients undergoing spinal anaesthesia was evaluated by means of a postoperative questionnaire. Despite the use of a 26G spinal needle in all patients, there was an overall incidence of spinal headache of 18%, which rose to 39% when considering patients under 40 years of age. Several spinal headaches of three to five days' duration were reported. Patients receiving spinal anaesthesia were compared with a smaller group of patients receiving general anaesthesia for similar procedures, and this group showed no evidence of post-operative morbidity after 48 h. In agreement with a previous study, it is concluded that spinal anaesthesia is not a suitable technique for the young day care patient.
Clarke
G A
GA
Department of Anaesthesia, Centrallasarettet, Vasteras, Sweden.
Power
K J
KJ
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000009:adverse effects; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal / Q000009:adverse effects; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013748:Tetracaine / Q000009:adverse effects
D013748:Tetracaine; D008012:Lidocaine; D002045:Bupivacaine