Effect of the level of injection of spinal anesthesia on sensory anaesthetic level

ABSTRACT

A prospective, randomized study was performed in Assiut University Hospital to investigate the influence of the level of injection on sensory anaesthesia in patients undergoing lower limbs and perineum surgeries when 3 mL of plain 0.5 percent bupivacaine was injected intrathecally at three different levels [L2-3, L3-4 and L4-5] in three groups of 20 patients each. The patients were kept sitting for 2 minutes after injection. No significant difference in maximal level of sensory anaesthesia was found. In all patients, anaesthesia was sufficient for surgery. These preliminary results indicate that if a higher level of injection is more suitable for anatomic reasons, it can safely be used without the risk of a much higher level of sensory blockade