Transient hearing loss following spinal anaesthesia

Audiograms were performed pre-operatively in 14 patients scheduled for transurethral resection of the prostate under spinal anaesthesia and again 2 days postoperatively. Six of the 14 patients showed a minor reduction of hearing in the low frequency range. Follow-up audiograms showed full recovery after 1-7 months. No significant hearing loss was found in 12 patients who underwent the same procedure with epidural anaesthesia.