Spinal anesthesia is one of the most frequently used regional anesthesia techniques in surgical interventions; however, rarely it may cause some transient or permanent neurological problems. One of these problems is headache, which is more frequent and severe in the young, and hearing loss, especially at low frequencies. Both the pain and the hearing loss are caused by leak of cerebrospinal fluid caused by the puncture in the membrane of the spinal cord during the procedure. We hypothesized that hearing loss might also be more frequent and severe in the young, and to test this hypothesis, we compared the hearing loss developing after spinal anesthesia between the young and the elderly. The implications of this study are as follows: First, spinal anesthesia must be performed carefully, especially in the young. Second, measures must be taken to avoid the leak of cerebrospinal fluid. This study reveals possible problems caused by spinal anesthesia in the young which can be easily overlooked.
The cause of hearing loss after spinal anaesthesia is unknown. Up until now, the only factor studied has been the effect of the diameter of the spinal needle on post-operative sensorineural hearing loss. The aim of this study was to describe this hearing loss and to investigate other factors influencing the degree of hearing loss. Two groups of 22 similar patients were studied: one group received 6 mL prilocaine 2%; and the other received 3 mL bupivacaine 0.5%. Patients given prilocaine were more likely to develop hearing loss (10 out of 22) than those given bupivacaine (4 out of 22) (P < 0.05). The average hearing loss for speech frequencies was about 10 dB after prilocaine and 15 dB after bupivacaine. None of the patients complained of subjective hearing loss. Long-term follow-up of the patients was not possible.
given prilocaine were more likely to develop hearing loss (10 out of 22) than those given bupivacaine (4 The cause of hearing loss after spinal anaesthesia is out of 22) (P<0.05). The average hearing loss for speech unknown. Up until now, the only factor studied has frequencies was about 10 dB after prilocaine and 15 been the effect of the diameter of the spinal needle dB after bupivacaine. None of the patients complained on post-operative sensorineural hearing loss. The aim of subjective hearing loss. Long-term follow-up of the of this study was to describe this hearing loss and to patients was not possible. investigate other factors influencing the degree of hearing loss. Two groups of 22 similar patients were Keywords: anaesthesia, regional, spinal; complication, hearing loss; oto-rhino-laryngology, studied: one group received 6 mL prilocaine 2%; and the other received 3 mL bupivacaine 0.5%. Patients audiometry; pharmacology, prilocaine, bupivacaine.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.