title: Transient radicular irritation after spinal anaesthesia with hyperbaric 5% lignocaine.
abstract: We have studied prospectively 600 patients who had spinal anaesthesia for minor surgery, to evaluate the incidence of transient radicular irritation after the block. The anaesthetic agent (hyperbaric 5% lignocaine, hyperbaric 0.5% bupivacaine or plain 0.5% bupivacaine) was chosen according to the anticipated duration of surgery. We obtained information after operation from 537 patients (282 by telephone, 255 by letter). Ten percent of patients anaesthetized with hyperbaric 5% lignocaine (27 patients) had transient bilateral radiating pain in the lower extremities, buttocks, or both. Typically the pain started within 24 h after spinal anaesthesia, lasted less than 2 days and was described as mild. Lignocaine was the only variable that correlated with this pain. Two patients complained of symptoms after hyperbaric 0.5% bupivacaine but these were atypical compared with pain after lignocaine. None of the patients anaesthetized with plain bupivacaine had similar complaints. We conclude that the use of 5% hyperbaric lignocaine for spinal anaesthesia should be reconsidered.
authors.affiliation: Valkeakoski Municipal Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tarkkila
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huhtala
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tuominen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002045:Bupivacaine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013511:Minor Surgical Procedures; D011312:Pressure; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D008012:Lidocaine; D002045:Bupivacaine