Korean J Anesthesiol.  1987 Apr;20(2):172-176. 10.4097/kjae.1987.20.2.172.

The Incidence and Causes of Failed Spinal Anesthesia

• Kil HK
• Kim C
• Um DJ
• Choi R

• KMID: 1933315
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.1987.20.2.172

Abstract

Spinal anesthesia is a relatively ease and useful technique and provides excellent analge-sia and relaxation for a great number of surgical procedures. It has been used widelr until the introduction of Muscle relaxant to the general anesthesia. However, complications, including hypotension, nausea, postspinal headache, neurologic sequelae, and death have been reported. In addition to those problems, number of failures after administration of spinal anesthetic haute been reported. We collected the 316 cases of spinal anesthesia given between January to May, 1986.the incidence of failure and the int-errelationships between the incidence and technical factors were reuiewed. Variables exam-ined including the patient population, the technical aspects of performing subarachnoid tap and subsequent blockade, and the level 7f training of anesthetist. Total number of patients with administration of anesthesia for 5 monthes was 2075; 316 patients in spinal anesthesia(15.237). We found a 4, l1% incidence of spinal failure, defined as the need to use general anesthesia or frequent administration of anlgesics during the surgical procedures. The technical factors(position of patients, approach method, puncture sites, needle gauge, agents type, and the performer) were insignificantlr contributed to the failure rate, but the amount of local anesthetic was showed statistical significance.

MeSH Terms

Anesthesia
Anesthesia, General
Anesthesia, Spinal*
Headache
Humans
Hypotension
Incidence*
Nausea
Needles
Punctures
Relaxation