European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Background: Opioids and local anaesthetics act synergistically and it’s a popular technique to combine bupivacaine and fentanyl in spinal anaesthesia for caesarean delivery. The aim of the study was to find out optimal dose combination of bupivacaine and fentanyl for spinal anaesthesia for better quality of perioperative analgesia and reduction of feto-maternal adverse outcome during caesarean section.
Methods: Three hundred and four parturients scheduled for caesarean delivery were randomly allocated to four groups of 76 each. Data of 298 parturients (Gp I=73, Gp II=75, Gp III=75 and GP IV=75) was included in the primary outcome analysis. The control group received 12 mg of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine for spinal anaesthesia. Fentanyl 15, 20 or 25 μg was added to each study group who received 9 mg of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine in spinal anaesthesia. Onset and duration of spinal anaesthesia, hemodynamic parameters, intraoperative nausea & vomiting (IONV), failed block, APGAR score and other side effects were noted.
Results: The duration of effective and complete analgesia was significantly longer in all fentanyl groups. However, increasing the dose of fentanyl from 15 to 25 μg had little effect on further prolongation of analgesia. Duration of motor blockade was significantly prolonged in control group. The incidence of hypotension and IONV episodes were significantly low in the study groups.
Conclusion: Bupivacaine and fentanyl have super additive effect in spinal block. However, strict drug dose calculation is required in spinal anaesthesia to minimize adverse outcomes during caesarean delivery. Spinal anaesthesia with fentanyl 15 μg and 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine, 9 mg provides optimal surgical conditions for caesarean delivery with negligible side effects as compared to other dose combinations.

Due to its rarity, iatrogenic spinal cord damage during spinal anaesthesia subsequent to lumber puncture is a somewhat less well-known phenomenon. Syrinx development or myelomalacia of the lumbar spinal cord due to direct cord damage is extremely rare. We present five patients who had this consequence, which resulted in a variety of neurological impairments, and whose MRI revealed myelomalacia or syrinx in the conusepiconus region. During follow-up, some of our patients showed symptomatic partial to complete recovery. As a result, practitioners must be aware of the risk of lumber puncture during spinal anaesthetic and proceed with caution to avoid neurological problems.