Pure-tone audiometric changes following spinal intradural and epidural anaesthesia

ABSTRACT

Pure tone audiometry was done for 20 patients subjected to spinal intradural anesthesia and 20 patients subjected to epidural [extradural] anesthesia. The recording of hearing acuity was done 24 hours before and after anesthesia and 7 days postoperatively. Twenty-four hours postoperatively, 55% of the patients subjected to intradural anesthesia suffered from low tone sensorineural hearing loss which was slight to moderate ranged 5-35 dB, while 40% of patients subjected to epidural anesthesia suffered from low tone hearing loss ranging 5-30 dB. This hearing loss returned more or less to normal levels within one week postoperatively. It was transient and required no treatment but was often overlooked