Journal of AdvancedMedical and Dental Sciences Research

Background: Continuous spinal anaesthesia (CSA) is an under-utilized anaesthetic technique suitable for surgeries of the lower extremity, perineum and lower abdomen. The present study was conducted to assess efficacy of Continuous spinal anaesthesia. Materials & Methods: 280 cases operated under Continuous spinal anaesthesia in both genders well studied for American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status, comorbidities, clinical outcome, details of the CSA, performance parameters, type and duration of surgery and the success of CSA. Results: Out of 280 patients, males were 150 and females were 130. ASA status I was seen in 140, II in 70, III in 42 and IV in 28. Comorbidities were IHD in 35, CCF in 60, diabetes in 80, hypertension in 75, CVA in 36 and CKD in 52. Discipline was vascular in 60, orthopaedics in 120, surgical in 55 and urology in 45 patients. Type of surgery was hip surgery in 40, femur in 45, lower abdomen in 80, knee in 50, foot in15 and leg in 50 cases. Duration of surgery was 105.4 minutes. CSA success was seen in 92% and failure in 8%. Failure was due to failure to insert in 6% and failure to complete the operation using CSA technique which required conversion to general anaesthesia in 2%. Position was sitting in 13% and lateral in 87%. Type of CSA was Pajunk Intralong in 90% and BBraun Tuohy Epidural in 10%. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Conclusion: CSA is a useful anaesthetic technique with low failure rate.