In 1907, the technique of continuous spinal anaesthesia (CSA) was introduced using intermittent injections of amylocaine via a needle which remained in the spinal canal. 1 This technique was refined in 1944 by threading a ureteral catheter into the lumbar subarachnoid space,2 and subsequently has been performed with standard epidural equipment. In an attempt to decrease the complication of post-dural puncture headache following CSA with standard epidural equipment, a microcatheter technique has been developed. 3,4 Neurological deficits following spinal anaesthesia are rare. 5 However, cauda equina syndrome following CSA has been reported recently. 6 We report two cases of persistent sacral nerve root deficits following transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) for benign prostatic hypertrophy. A neurologist was involved in the postoperative care to validate the deficits. In each case, CSA was performed with hyperbaric lidocaine through a lumbar microcatheter.Case #1 A 67-yr-old male with normal coagulation studies and neurological examination was prepared (10% povidoneiodine solution (Kendall Healthcare)), and a 22-gauge spinal needle was introduced easily into the subarachnoid space (L3-4). A 28-gauge CSA catheter (CoSpan~, Kendall Healthcare; Mansfield, MA) was inserted (4 cm) without difficulty and its position was verified by the aspiration of cerebrospinal fluid. In the supine position, 0.7 ml, 5% lidocaine in 7.5% dextrose (without epinephfine) was given, and followed by four incremental injections. The total dose before incision was 3.2 ml over 20 min. There was no pain or paraesthesia with needle placement, catheter insertion, or local anaesthetic injection. After surgical incision, another 2.5 ml (three injections) of 5% lidocaine were administered over ten minutes with the patient in the lithotomy position. Though