PubMed · 11966569
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S Q M Tighe. 2002. Paravertebral block.. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2044.2002.262618.x
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BACKGROUND: Spinal anaesthesia has been in use since the turn of the late 19th century. The most serious complication of this technique is damage to the spinal cord or nerve roots resulting in lasting neurologic sequelae. Such serious adverse effects seldom happen. There has been an increase in the number of reports during the last nine years implicating lidocaine as a possible cause of temporary and permanent neurologic complications after spinal anaesthesia. Follow-up of patients who received uncomplicated spinal anaesthesia revealed that some of them developed pain in the lower extremities after an initial full recovery. This painful condition that occurs in the immediate post-operative period was named "transient neurologic symptoms" (TNS). OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this review were to study the frequency of TNS and neurologic complications after spinal anaesthesia with lidocaine, compared to other local anaesthetics. SEARCH STRATEGY: Trials were identified by computerized searches of the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (4th Quarter 2002), MEDLINE (1966 - January 2003), LILAC database, EMBASE (1980 - week 51, 2002), and by checking the reference lists of trials and review articles. SELECTION CRITERIA: All randomized and pseudo-randomized studies comparing the frequency of TNS and of neurologic complications after spinal anaesthesia with lidocaine as compared to other local anaesthetics. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two reviewers independently evaluated the quality of the relevant studies and extracted the data from the included studies. MAIN RESULTS: Fourteen trials, reporting 1,349 patients, 117 of whom developed transient neurologic symptoms, were included in the analysis. The use of lidocaine for spinal anaesthesia increased the risk of developing TNS. There was no evidence that this painful condition was associated with any neurologic pathology as it was clearly documented that no positive neurologic findings were present in any patient with TNS; the symptoms disappeared spontaneously by the fifth postoperative day. The relative risk for developing TNS after spinal anaesthesia with lidocaine as compared to other local anaesthetics (bupivacaine, prilocaine, procaine and mepivacaine) was 4.35 (95% Confidence Interval: 1.98, 9.54). REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: The risk of developing TNS after spinal anaesthesia with lidocaine was significantly higher than when bupivacaine, prilocaine and procaine were used. The term "TNS", which implies a positive neurologic finding, should not be used for this painful condition, which is in fact comparable to another common adverse effect after spinal anaesthesia - lower back pain. How much the pain in the lower extremities influences patient satisfaction is not elucidated clearly in the literature.
This chapter addresses the increasing incidence of spinal haematoma after central neuraxis anaesthesia in patients receiving drugs that affect coagulation. Administration of low-molecular-weight heparins in the perioperative period is highlighted because these drugs remain the 'gold standard' for prophylaxis against deep-vein thrombosis. The performance of spinal anaesthesia in patients already receiving antiplatelet drugs is discussed--as well as special warnings in such a setting. In addition, issues such as those concerning the administration of unfractionated heparin, anti-vitamin K drugs or new antiplatelet and antithrombotic medications are addressed. Finally, specific recommendations regarding each class of drug are defined in order to avoid the occurrence of a rare but catastrophic event such as spinal haematoma.
Local anaesthetics have been placed in the intrathecal space for approximately 100 years. Currently used intrathecal local anaesthetics appear to be relatively benign on the basis of the low incidence of permanent neurological deficits. In large retrospective surveys of 4000-10 000 patients, the incidence of persistent neurological sequelae after subarachnoid anaesthesia varies between 0.01 and 0.7%. Since its introduction in 1948, hyperbaric 5% lidocaine has been used for millions of spinal anaesthetics. The predictable onset and limited duration of action have made lidocaine one of the most popular spinal anaesthetics currently available. Concern about the use of spinal lidocaine began in 1991 with published reports of cauda equina syndrome after continuous spinal anaesthesia. In 1993, Schneider published a case report of four patients undergoing spinal anaesthesia who postoperatively experienced aching and pain in the buttocks and lower extremities. This chapter reviews the neurotoxicity of spinal local anaesthetics, as well as the incidence, possible aetiology, and treatment of transient neurological symptoms after lidocaine spinal anaesthesia.