Selective spinal anesthesia for outpatient laparoscopy. III: Sufentanilvs lidocaine-sufentanil

Abstract

The efficacy of low dose intrathecal lidocaine-sufentanil was compared with intrathecal sufentanil for short duration outpatient gynecological laparoscopy. Thirteen ASA I and II patients undergoing gynecological laparoscopy were studied in a randomized double-blind trial. Patients received either intrathecal 10 mg lidocaine plus 10 microg sufentanil (Group LS) or intrathecal 20 microg sufentanil (Group S), each diluted to 3 mL with sterile water through a 27g Whitacre needle in the sitting position. Sensory and motor recovery were assessed with pinprick and a modified Bromage scale. One of seven Group LS patients and two of five Group S patients required conversion to general anesthesia for failed skin test with forceps. Two of the remaining three Group S patients felt sharpness with skin incision. The study was terminated early because of inadequate anesthesia in Group S. The small sample size (n = 9) made statistical analysis uninformative. Intrathecal 20 microg sufentanil is unsuitable as a sole agent for gynecological laparoscopy.