Viktorija Sabaitytė1
1Vilnius University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Vilnius, Lithuania
Abstract
Spinal anesthesia is one the most reliable type of regional block methods. It is relatively easy to perform, recovery time is short and intubation is not necessary during the operation, post-procedural nausea and emesis are avoided, also there is less need for opioids in postoperative analgesia. The most common complications are periprocedural hypotension, headache and urine retention. They are short-term and do not require specific and complicated treatment. Severe complications such as spinal, or intracranial hematoma, abscess, or meningitis are extremely rare, although can cause permanent neurological deficit or even death if not diagnosed and treated early.
Aim: the purpose of this analysis is to discuss the complications after spinal anesthesia. Methods: the review of literature was managed by using “PubMed” medical database, selecting publications discussing spinal anesthesia and its complications. Conclusion: after review of the literature the main complications of spinal anesthesia are presented.
Keywords: spinal anesthesia, neuraxial block, complications.