| Epidural Anesthesia for Lumbar Spine Surgery. |
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Eun Gyung Park, Kyung Woo Park, Byung Moon Cho |
1Department of Anesthesiology, Kwang Hye Hospital, Korea. nschbm@hallym.or.kr
2Department of Neurosurgery, Kwang Hye Hospital, Korea.
3Department of Neurosurgery, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. |
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| Abstract |
BACKGROUND
Many anesthesiolosists feel that epidural anesthesia is unsuitable for spinal sugery. However, several articles have been published in which epidural anesthesia is viewed as a good alternative to general anesthesia for spine surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate effectiveness and complications of epidural anesthesia for spine surgery.
METHODS
Eighty-two patients undergoing epidural anesthesia for spine surgery was studied prospectively. Epidural anesthesia was performed using 18-gauge Tuohy needles inserted at the L1-2 interspace. A test dose of lidocaine 3 ml was injected to check for a subarachnoid puncture. After a 2 - 3 minute waiting period, 0.5% bupivacaine 12 ml was slowly injected for 3 minutes. The pain at the operation site and roots, extension of anesthesia, motor blockade and complications were evaluated.
RESULTS
Pain at the operation site was minimal in 83% of the patients; however, 44% of the patients complained of moderate to severe root pain. No patient had a new neurologic deficit as a result of the epidural technique.
Perioperative complications were minimal and could be easily treated.
CONCLUSIONS
We concluded that proper administration of epidural anesthesia for spine surgery is a safe and reliable procedure and a good alternative to general anesthesia. |
| Key Words:
Epidural anesthesia; lumbar spine surgery |
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