Level of injection in spinal anesthesia: effect on sensory anesthetic level.
OBJECTIVE
A prospective, randomized study was performed to investigate the influence of the level of injection on sensory anesthesia when bupivacaine 0.5% adjusted to 37.0 C was used.


METHODS
Three milliliters of plain bupivacaine 0.5% were injected at either the L2-3 interspace or the L4-5 interspace. There were 10 patients in each group. The patients were kept sitting for 2 minutes after injection.


RESULTS
No significant difference in maximal level of sensory anesthesia was found (p = 0.123).


CONCLUSIONS
These preliminary results indicate that if a higher level of injection is more suitable for anatomic reasons, it can safely be used without the risk of a much higher level of sensory blockade.
Becker
N
N
Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Frederiksberg Hospital Ndr., Copenhagen, Denmark.
Callesen
T
T
Thage
B
B
Bertelsen
F
F
Christiansen
C
C
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal / Q000379:methods*; D002045:Bupivacaine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D013346:Subarachnoid Space
D002045:Bupivacaine