Simultaneous combined spinal epidural anesthesia technique without catheter

Abstract

Aims: The extension of spinal anesthesia by extradural injection has been identified as a modification of the combined spinal-epidural anesthesia. Epidural volume extension (EVE) is a rescue strategy that can raise the level of insufficient post-spinal sensory block. Material and Method: After approval of Adnan Menderes University Ethics Committee (Decision 2016/834/37), the data of 455 patients who had undergone insufficient simultaneous combined spinal epidural without catheter between 2010 and 2016 were retrospectively analyzed in terms of ASA scores; demographic and hemodynamic data; surgery type; preoperative and postoperative sensory and motor block levels; operation onset times after anesthesia; need for peroperative additional anesthesia, vasopressor (ephedrine) and atropine; and postoperative pain onset times. Results: Of the 455 patients, there were two groups. In the first group, there were 238 patients who had undergone cesarean section and in the second group there were 217 patients who had undergone surgery for inguinal hernia. There was no mortality and morbidity in any group. There was a statistically significant decrease in heart rate, systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressures during the peroperative period in both groups (p<0.05). Discussion: The simultaneous combined spinal-epidural technique (sCSEA) without catheter may be considered as an alternative to conventional methods for appropriate surgeries. It can be safely used with local anesthetic combinations instead of saline for EVE. The advantages and disadvantages of EVE compared to the conventional method should be demonstrated with clinical randomized studies.