English

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: In all practical purposes various thoraco lumbar and lumbar surgeries like discectomy, laminectomy and spinal fusion procedures are usually performed under general anesthesia (GA). Our aim of this study is to assess whether spinal anesthesia is a better and effective alternative to general anesthesia in terms of economic advantage and functional recovery with both intra and post-operative heamodynamic stability. METHODS: In our study hundred patients with age group 25-45 yrs within the ASA criteria of class I-III were enrolled. All patients were randomly selected based on age, sex, ASS criteria, duration of surgery, heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), blood loss, previous history of risk factors and co morbidities. The severity of postoperative pain based on visual analogue scale (VAS) and use of analgesics post operatively, were recorded. RESULTS: There were 41 males and 59 females. The mean age of the patient was 39.28±9.27 yrs. Six patients had hypertension, 11 with diabetes. Patients with ASA Grade I and II and III were 60, 34 and 6 respectively. There were no episodes of air way compromises, 2 patients had spinal aneasthesia failures, no incidence of post dural puncture headache, 3 patients had mean blood pressure fluctuations among them, one patient had post-operative paraperesis due to hematoma treated by immediate decompression, and 13 patients had usage of propofol sedation in terms of comfort. The duration of surgery (range) was 77.25±22.44 min (40-120) Severity of postoperative pain after four hours of surgery on VAS was 3.24±0.46. Twenty two patients (22%) required analgesics. Two patients had post-operative vomiting. CONCLUSIONS: In our study we have considered that spinal anesthesia for advantages such as less blood loss, intra operative blood pressure and heart rate changes, postoperative pain, quick functional recovery and lower incidence of pulmonary complications. Additionally, during spinal anesthesia patient extremities and chest can be reposition as needed, to avoid nerve injury, brachial plexus palsy or pressure necrosis to either the face or chest wall and finally the most important being an economical advantage and patient and surgeons satisfaction. We showed that spinal aneasthesia is better and effective alternative to GA in providing postoperative analgesia and decreasing blood loss with both intra and post-operative hemodynamic stability without increasing adverse side effects.