Effect of Injection Speed on Level of Isobaric Spinal Anesthesia

• Published in: Nihon Rinshō Masui Gakkai shi Vol. 17; no. 1; pp. 14 - 18
• Main Authors: ARAI, Toshimi, ITOU, Hiroyuki, YOKOYAMA, Eiichirou, ISSHIKI, Atushi, ISHIZAKI, Taku, HAMADA, Yoshikazu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: THE JAPAN SOCIETY FOR CLINICAL ANESTHESIA 1997
• Subjects: Injection speed; Isobaric solution; Level of spinal anesthesia
• ISSN: 0285-4945; 1349-9149
• DOI: 10.2199/jjsca.17.14

The purpose of this study was to determine whether injection speed affects the spread of isobaric spinal anesthesia. Spinal anesthesia was performed on 50 patients for minor lower limb surgery using isobaric solution of 3ml of 0.5% tetracaine. Subarachnoid space was confirmed with a 25-gauge Quincke needle at the L2-3 interspace with each patient in the lateral position and the injection speed was 0.4 (G I), 0.2 (G II), 0.1 (G III), 0.05 (G IV), and 0.017ml/s (G V). We measured the level of analgesia by pinprick and the time to complete motor block of both legs after intrathecal injection. No significant difference was found in the highest level of analgesia and the time to complete motor block after intrathecal injection between the five groups. There was no difference between the five groups in the level of analgesia at each measured time point. We conclude that injection speed has no effect on the level of isobaric spinal anesthesia.