Failed Spinal Anesthesia

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the frequency of failed spinal anesthesia in patientsundergoing caesarean section in a teaching hospital in Pakistan. Study Design: It was a cross– sectional study. Setting: Department of Anesthesia and Pain Management PAF HospitalSargodha. Period: January 2015 to May 2015. Methodology: A total of 293 pregnant patientsundergoing caesarean section under spinal anesthesia were included. After prehydration andessential monitoring, all patients were given spinal anesthesia with 25 G spinal needle at L3-L4 or L4-L5 level by 2nd year resident anesthesiologist under indirect supervision using 1.5 mlof hyperbaric spinal injection. Failure to achieve adequate block was managed by differentmodalities like sedation, analgesia with ketamine, repeat spinal anesthesia or to proceed withgeneral anesthesia. Results: Out of total of 293 patients, failed spinal occurred in 9 patients(3.07%). Out of these 9 patients, 02 patients (22.22%) were elective caesarean sections while07 cases (77.77%) were emergency caesarean sections. Conclusion: The chances of failedspinal anesthesia are more in emergency caesarean sections as compared to elective casesand failure rate of spinal anesthesia in PAF teaching hospital Sargodha is 3.07% which is slightlyhigher than 3%