title: Spinal perianal block: a prospective, randomized, double-blind comparison with spinal saddle block.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this prospective, randomized, double-blind study, we evaluated whether a very low dose of spinal bupivacaine could be sufficient for safe performance of short perianal surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty patients were randomly assigned to receive hyperbaric bupivacaine doses of either 1.5 mg (n = 40) or 6.0 mg (n = 40).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The lower dose produced satisfactory anesthesia with a more limited block (median S4; P < 0.01), earlier time to ambulation (98 vs 147 min; P < 0.01), and hospital discharge (126 vs 249 min; P < 0.01), compared with the higher spinal dose.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of 1.5 mg spinal bupivacaine can be successful for short perianal surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Elmhurst Hospital, New York, USA. medhatrwassef@verizon.net
authors.forename: Medhat R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Wassef
authors.forename: Emil I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Michaels
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rangel
authors.forename: Arkadiy T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Tsyrlin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal / Q000379:methods*; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods*; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D002045:Bupivacaine