Laryngeal mask during emergence from anesthesia in intubated patients with asthmatic attack or ischemic heart disease

We report two patients in whom the presence of a tracheal tube induced asthmatic attack or hemodynamic instability and the laryngeal mask was useful during emergence from anesthesia. Case 1:A 24-year-old man with asthma was scheduled for reconstruction of an amputated finger. After induction of anesthesia and neuromuscular blockade, the trachea was intubated without complications. At the end of 9.5-h uneventful operation under anesthesia with sevoflurane, nitrous oxide and oxygen, inhalational anesthetics were turned off. During emergence from anesthesia, bucking with asthmatic attack occurred. Sevoflurane and theophilline resolved the attack, which recurred after termination of sevoflurane. Under deep anesthesia with sevoflurane, the laryngeal mask was placed, and then the tracheal tube removed without complications. The laryngeal mask was removed when the patient awoke uneventfully. Case 2: A 69-year-old man with a recent history of myocardial infarction was scheduled for skin grafting. After uneventful operation, sevoflurane and nitrous oxide were turned off. Multiple premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) with hypertension and tachycardia occurred, and necessitated the restart of sevoflurane. Under deep anesthesia, the laryngeal mask was inserted and the trachea extubated, and the patient regained consciousness without complications.     

Wheezing during Induction of General Anesthesia in Patients with and without Asthma: A Randomized, Blinded Trial

Background: Patients with asthma who require general anesthesia and tracheal intubation are at increased risk for the development of bronchospasm during induction. The incidence of wheezing during induction with different intravenously administered agents is unknown. A randomized, double-blinded prospective study was undertaken to evaluate the incidence of wheezing in asymptomatic asthmatic and nonasthmatic patients receiving three commonly used intravenous anesthetic agents for induction of anesthesia.

Methods: Fifty-nine asymptomatic asthmatic and 96 nonasthmatic patients of ASA physical status 1 and 2 were studied. All patients received 1.5 micro gram/kg fentanyl, oxygen, followed by either 5 mg/kg thiopental or thiamylal, 1.75 mg/kg methohexital or 2.5 mg/kg propofol, 1.5 mg/kg succinylcholine, tracheal intubation, and inhalational anesthesia. Wheezing was assessed by an independent blinded observer auscultating the lungs at 2 and 5 min postintubation. Data were analyzed by Pearson's chi-squared, Fisher's exact test, and multiple logistic regression with significance set at P < 0.05.

Results: Both asthmatic and nonasthmatic patients who received a thiobarbiturate for induction had a greater incidence of wheezing than did patients receiving propofol. In asthmatic patients, 45% (23, 67) (mean and 95% confidence interval) who received a thiobarbiturate, 26% (8, 44) who received an oxybarbiturate, and none (0, 17) who received propofol wheezed after intubation. In nonasthmatic patients, 16% (3, 28) who received thiobarbiturate and 3% (0, 9) who received propofol wheezed.     

Anesthetic management of an emergency surgery for panperitonitis during an asthmatic attack

We report anesthetic management of an emergency surgery for panperitonitis during an asthmatic attack in a patient with angina pectoris. A 71-year-old male patient, complaining of abdominal pain and dyspnea, was diagnosed as having panperitonitis and asthmatic attack by surgeons in the emergency room. General anesthesia was induced by intravenous injection of propofol (30 mg), ketamine (30 mg), fentanyl (200 micrograms), suxamethonium (60 mg) and diltiazem (5 mg) following cannulation of the left radial artery for continuous monitoring of direct arterial pressure. Anesthesia was maintained by continuous infusion of propofol (4-10 mg.kg-1.h-1) and ketamine (1 mg.kg-1.h-1) in combination with intermittent epidural injection of local anesthetics. Although sudden onset of increased peak airway pressure occurred 45 minutes after starting operation, 50 mg of propofol injection and 500 mg of aminophyline infusion could relieve this high airway pressure. Because increased peak airway pressure appeared frequently and this could not be relieved by bolus injection of propofol, we changed the intravenous anesthesia to nitrous oxide-oxygen-isoflurane (GOI). After this change, no asthmatic attack occurred during the operation. While the mechanical ventilation was required during the early postoperative period along with infusion of aminophyline and inhalation of beta-stimulants, the patient was weaned successfully from the mechanical ventilation 12 hours postoperatively. It was speculated that the intraoperative asthmatic attack might have been caused by light level of anesthesia with propofol and ketamine. We concluded that other analgesics, such as fentanyl or epidural local anesthetics, must have been supplemented at proper timing during the continuous infusion of propofol and ketamine during the surgery.     

Anesthesia in bronchial asthma

Between 2% and 5% of the population suffer from bronchial asthma. The disease is characterized by bronchial hyperreactivity to physical, chemical, pharmacological, and/or immunological irritants. The incidence of perioperative complications is higher in asthmatics than in non-asthmatics. Careful pre- and postoperative care can reduce complications in these patients. Successful management of an asthmatic patient undergoing anesthesia starts with the identification of patients with asthma, the preoperative assessment, and evaluation of the pulmonary function. No elective surgery should be performed in patients suffering from unstable asthma or an acute attack. Thorough knowledge of the effects and interactions of broncholytic therapy with anesthesia is mandatory. Preanesthetic management must take into consideration the etiology of the disease; intraoperatively, attention must be paid to the pathophysiology. Appropriate perioperative monitoring can help to prevent complications. No one type of anesthesia is associated with lower postoperative complications. The skill of the anesthesiologist, early recovery from general anesthesia, and good postoperative care greatly reduce the incidence of complications. Besides the changes in pulmonary function that occur following anesthesia and surgery, asthmatics may suffer from abnormalities in control of ventilation and mucociliary function postoperatively. The patient with a history of asthma needs close supervision during the postoperative period: many sudden deaths from asthma and many episodes of ventilatory arrest occur during the night and in the early morning.     

Comparison of epidural anesthesia and general anesthesia for patients with bronchial asthma

We prospectively investigated the incidence of asthmatic attacks in 94 patients (1.5%) who were diagnosed as definite asthma. We separated the patients into three groups: epidural anesthesia (n = 10) including combined spinal/epidural anesthesia (n = 7), combined epidural and general anesthesia (n = 23), and general anesthesia (n = 54). General anesthesia was induced with propofol or midazolam and maintained with N2O and O2 with sevoflurane in adults. Patients who underwent epidural anesthesia and combined spinal and epidural anesthesia showed no asthmatic attacks. The incidence of bronchospasm with combined epidural and general anesthesia was 2/23. The incidence of bronchospasm with general anesthesia was 4/54. Bronchoconstriction occurred after tracheal intubation in 5 patients except in one patient, in whom it occurred after induction of anesthesia with midazolam. All episodes of bronchospasm in the operative period were treated successfully. The frequency of bronchospasm did not depend on the severity of asthmatic symptoms or the chronic use of bronchodilators before operation. These findings suggest that tracheal intubation, not the choice of anesthetic, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of bronchospasm.     

Thoracic epidural anesthesia and analgesia for cancer surgery: The importance of the anesthetic technique

Major palliative or curative surgery in patients with malignancies can involve significant postoperative cardiac or pulmonary morbidity and result in severe postoperative pain. There is now a body of evidence that supports the use of combined epidural and general anesthesia for patients undergoing these prolonged surgical procedures of the abdomen and/or thorax. The intraoperative management of both components of the anesthetic, providing a continuous and adequate sensory blockade with local anesthetics, while limiting the inhalational and intravenous anesthetics to the minimum necessary for patient comfort may be as important as the choice of the anesthetic technique per se. Although, well-designed clinical studies are necessary to confirm this hypothesis, a recent pilot study has shown that this approach has resulted in a shorter hospitalization course without an increase in the incidence of complications or jeopardizing patient comfort. Copyright © 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company     

小儿全麻苏醒期躁动的原因及处理

随着各种新麻醉药（特别是吸人麻醉药和静脉麻醉药）的问世，小儿全麻后躁动的现象日益增多（12％～13％），其导致的不良后果亦受到人们重视。但是，小儿全麻后躁动的发病原因和机制非常复杂，是多种因素共同作用的结果。此文将就小儿全麻后躁动的发病原因和机制及相应的诊断、治疗方法进行综述。     

A retrospective study on awareness in 1922 cases during induction of general anesthesia

BACKGROUND: There are some reports on the incidence of awareness during general anesthesia that is usually stable at the maintenance period. The aim of this study is to evaluate the incidence of awareness during the induction period of general anesthesia in which the effects of anesthetics are unstable. METHODS: The research-nurses interviewed the patients, who had undergone general anesthesia, on the awareness during anesthesia within a week after operation. The patients were excluded from the study if they were in deep sedation or unconscious because of the medical reasons. We defined the induction period from the administration of hypnotic drugs to the tracheal intubation. RESULTS: Seven cases with ages from 20 s to 70 s out of 1922 cases were identified as the residual awareness cases during the induction period. Six cases were managed with low concentrations of inhalation anesthetics after injection of intravenous hypnotics. The incidence was lower, but not significant, if they were managed with total intravenous technique. The BIS values were above 60 in all these cases if the monitor was attached. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of awareness during the induction was 0.36%. We have to pay more attention to the disappearance of the hypnotic effect at the induction period.     

Induction, Recovery, and Safety Characteristics of Sevoflurane in Children Undergoing Ambulatory Surgery: A Comparison with Halothane

Background: Sevoflurane is an inhalational anesthetic with characteristics suited for use in children. To determine whether the induction, recovery, and safety characteristics of sevoflurane differ from those of halothane, the following open-labeled, multicenter, randomized, controlled, phase III study in children undergoing ambulatory surgery was designed.

Methods: Three hundred seventy-five children, ASA physical status 1 or 2, were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive either sevoflurane or halothane, both in 60% N2 O and 40% O2. Anesthesia was induced using a mask with an Ayre's t piece or Bain circuit in four of the centers and a mask with a circle circuit in the fifth center. Maximum inspired concentrations during induction of anesthesia were 7% sevoflurane and 4.3% halothane. Anesthesia was maintained by spontaneous ventilation, without tracheal intubation. End-tidal concentrations of both inhalational anesthetics were adjusted to 1.0 MAC for at least 10 min before the end of surgery. Induction and recovery characteristics and all side effects were recorded. The plasma concentration of inorganic fluoride was measured at induction of and 1 h after anesthesia.

Results: During induction of anesthesia, the time to loss of the eyelash reflex with sevoflurane was 0.3 min faster than with halothane (P < 0.001). The incidence of airway reflex responses was similar, albeit infrequent with both anesthetics. The total MAC *symbol* h exposure to sevoflurane was 11% less than the exposure to halothane (P < 0.013), although the end-tidal MAC multiple during the final 10 min of anesthesia was similar for both groups. Early recovery as evidenced by the time to response to commands after sevoflurane was 33% more rapid than it was after halothane (P < 0.001), although the time to discharge from hospital was similar for both anesthetics. The mean (+/-SD) plasma concentration of inorganic fluoride 1 h after discontinuation of sevoflurane was 10.3+/-3.5 micro Meter. The overall incidence of adverse events attributable to sevoflurane was similar to that of halothane, although the incidence of agitation attributable to sevoflurane was almost threefold greater than that attributable to halothane (P < 0.004).     

Anesthetic management in a patient with trifunctional protein deficiency

A 4-year-old girl with trifunctional protein deficiency was scheduled for gastrostomy. She had recurrent episodes of rhabdomyolysis triggered by fasting, infection, stress and uncertain causes. In the management of anesthesia, we avoided both propofol and inhalational anesthetics and anesthetized her with benzodiazepine and opioid combined with regional anesthesia to minimize the stress response. Her metabolism was kept stable throughout the intraoperative period. However, on the second postoperative day, she developed rhabdomyolysis and was treated with glucose containing infusion. This case provides instructive information that strict management is needed for patients with trifunctional protein deficiency in the perioperative period.     

Multiple-deep-breath inhalation induction with 5% sevoflurane and 67% nitrous oxide: comparison with intravenous injection of propofol

Purpose. To evaluate the clinical characteristics of multiple-deep-breath inhalation induction with sevoflurane and nitrous oxide followed by the same inhalational anesthetics for maintenance, we compared the technique with intravenous propofol anesthesia. Methods. Forty patients scheduled for ophthalmic surgery under general anesthesia with a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) were assigned to two groups. Anesthesia was induced with multiple-deep-breath inhalation of 5% sevoflurane and 67% nitrous oxide in oxygen (group S: n = 20) or intravenous injection of 1% propofol at the rate of 1200 ml·h⁻¹ with spontaneous inhalation of 67% nitrous oxide in oxygen until the patient lost consciousness or received propofol up to 2 mg·kg⁻¹ (group P: n = 20). We attempted to insert an LMA when the patient's jaw relaxation was adequate. We compared induction times, recovery times, occurrence of adverse events, and patient satisfaction between the two groups. Results. The mean time to insertion of the LMA was significantly shorter in group P (209 ± 118 s) than in group S (302 ± 102 s; P < 0.05). The recovery times did not differ significantly between the groups. There were no serious side effects during the induction and recovery period in either group. Significantly more patients in group P than in group S wanted to have the same anesthetic method (90% vs 50%; P < 0.05). Conclusion. Multiple-deep-breath inhalation induction with 5% sevoflurane and 67% nitrous oxide followed by the same inhalational anesthetics for maintenance was safely performed without serious adverse events. However, the induction time was shorter and patient satisfaction was higher in propofol group than in the inhalational group. Received: April 11, 2001 / Accepted: November 6, 2001     

脑电双频谱指数监测提高麻醉管理及全麻苏醒质量Meta分析研究

目的 评价脑电双频谱指数（BIS）监测是否改善麻醉管理和麻醉苏醒质量。方法按照制定的检索策略检索Pubmed和Medline—CDRom数据库（1990年1月至2004年1月），随后按照一定的入选原则找出符合要求的文献。按已制定的研究评价标准进行筛选，共10篇文献纳入最终的Meta分析。结果 BIS监测在镇痛药用量一致的情况下可减少催眠药物的用量。吸入麻醉中BIS监测可减少吸入麻醉药用量，但肌松药用量增加。BIS组病人睁眼时间、言语指令反应恢复时间、拔管时间、定向力恢复时间均缩短。BIS监测对术后恶心呕吐及术后疼痛的发生率没有影响。BIS监测减少术中知晓与术后记忆发生的证据尚不足。结论 BIS监测能减少全身麻醉中药物用量并提高麻醉苏醒质量。     

Randomized Controlled Trial of Total Intravenous Anesthesia with Propofol versus Inhalation Anesthesia with Isoflurane-Nitrous Oxide: Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting and Economic Analysis

Background: To assess the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting after total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) with propofol versus inhalational anesthesia with isoflurane-nitrous oxide, the authors performed a randomized trial in 2,010 unselected surgical patients in a Dutch academic institution. An economic evaluation was also performed.

Methods: Elective inpatients (1,447) and outpatients (563) were randomly assigned to inhalational anesthesia with isoflurane-nitrous oxide or TIVA with propofol-air. Cumulative incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting was recorded for 72 h by blinded observers. Cost data of anesthetics, antiemetics, disposables, and equipment were collected. Cost differences caused by duration of postanesthesia care unit stay and hospitalization were analyzed.

Results: Total intravenous anesthesia reduced the absolute risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting up to 72 h by 15% among inpatients (from 61% to 46%, P < 0.001) and by 18% among outpatients (from 46% to 28%, P < 0.001). This effect was most pronounced in the early postoperative period. The cost of anesthesia was more than three times greater for propofol TIVA. Median duration of stay in the postanesthesia care unit was 135 min after isoflurane versus 115 min after TIVA for inpatients (P < 0.001) and 160 min after isoflurane versus 150 min after TIVA for outpatients (P = 0.039). Duration of hospitalization was equal in both arms.     

Intraoperative awareness in a regional medical system: a review of 3 years' data

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative awareness in patients undergoing general anesthesia is an infrequent but well-described adverse outcome. The reported incidence of this phenomenon is between 0.1% and 0.9%. METHODS: With institutional review board approval, the authors reviewed continuous quality improvement data from 3 yr (2002-2004) at the locations where the physician group provided anesthesia. Board-certified anesthesiologists supervising certified registered nurse anesthetists in the anesthesia care team model of practice delivered all anesthetics. Brain function monitors were not used in the operating room setting. Patients were interviewed twice during a 48-h postoperative period and, as part of that process, underwent a modified Brice interview to determine intraoperative awareness. All cases that met the criteria for awareness were examined by the continuous quality improvement committee to modify anesthetic practice and were included in this study. RESULTS: Data from 211,842 patients undergoing anesthesia were considered. Of these, the continuous quality improvement process followed up 177,468 (83.1%). Cases were not included in the study if the patient was younger than 18 yr, did not have a general anesthetic, or had a terminal event during the hospital course. By these criteria, a total of 87,361 patients followed by the continuous quality improvement process were at risk for awareness. Six patients reported instances of recall. CONCLUSION: The incidence of intraoperative awareness in this large sample of patients from a regional medical center undergoing general anesthesia was 0.0068%, or 1 per 14,560 patients, substantially less than that reported in the recent literature.     

Inhalational induction with isoflurane: the influence of lidocaine pretreatment

The effect of intravenous lidocaine in reducing the incidence of complicated induction during a single vital capacity breath technique using isoflurane was studied. Forty patients were randomized into two groups to receive either placebo (group A) or intravenous lidocaine 1.5 mg·kg⁻¹ (group B) just prior to induction. Inhalational induction using 2% isoflurane and 66% nitrous oxide in oxygen was then carried out. Patients pretreated with lidocaine had significantly fewer complications during induction of anesthesia. Modest decreases in blood pressure and heart rate were observed in both groups but were clinically insignificant. Intravenous lidocaine pretreatment significantly reduced the incidence of complications during inhalational induction.     

Inhalational techniques in ambulatory anesthesia

In the current health care environment, anesthesia practitioners are frequently required to reevaluate their practice to be more efficient and cost-effective. Although IV induction with propofol and inhalational induction with sevoflurane are both suitable techniques for outpatients, patients prefer IV induction. Maintenance of anesthesia with the newer inhaled anesthetics (ie, desflurane and sevoflurane) provide for a rapid early recovery as compared with infusion of propofol (ie, TIVA), while allowing easy titratability of anesthetic depth. Titration of hypnotic sedatives using BIS monitoring may reduce the time to awakening and thereby may facilitate fast tracking (ie, bypassing the PACU) and reduce hospital stay. Inhalational anesthesia is associated with a higher incidence of PONV, but no differences have been demonstrated with respect to late recovery (eg, PACU stay and home readiness). Although clinical differences between desflurane and sevoflurane appear to be small, desflurane may be associated with faster emergence, particularly in elderly and morbidly obese patients. Balanced anesthesia with IV propofol induction and inhalation anesthesia with N2O for maintenance, and an LMA for airway management, may be an optimal technique for ambulatory surgery. Inhalational anesthesia may have an economic advantage over a TIVA technique.     

Anesthesia in bronchial asthma

Asthma is defined as a chronic inflammatory airway disease in response to a wide variety of provoking stimuli. Characteristic clinical symptoms of asthma are bronchial hyperreactivity, reversible airway obstruction, wheezing and dyspnea. Asthma presents a major public health problem with increasing prevalence rates and severity worldwide. Despite major advances in our understanding of the clinical management of asthmatic patients, it remains a challenging population for anesthesiologists in clinical practice. The anesthesiologist's responsibility starts with the preoperative assessment and evaluation of the pulmonary function. For patients with asthma who currently have no symptoms, the risk of perioperative respiratory complications is extremely low. Therefore, pulmonary function should be optimized preoperatively and airway obstruction should be controlled by using steroids and bronchodilators. Preoperative spirometry is a simple means of assessing presence and severity of airway obstruction as well as the degree of reversibility in response to bronchodilator therapy. An increase of 15% in FEV1 is considered clinically significant. Most asymptomatic persons with asthma can safely undergo general anesthesia with and without endotracheal intubation. Volatile anesthetics are still recommended for general anesthetic techniques. As compared to barbiturates and even ketamine, propofol is considered to be the agent of choice for induction of anesthesia in asthmatics. The use of regional anesthesia does not reduce perioperative respiratory complications in asymptomatic asthmatics, whereas it is advantageous in symptomatic patients. Pregnant asthmatic and parturients undergoing anesthesia are at increased risk, especially if regional anesthetic techniques are not suitable and prostaglandin and its derivates are administered for abortion or operative delivery. Bronchial hyperreactivity associated with asthma is an important risk factor of perioperative bronchospasm. The occurrence of this potentially life-threatening condition in anesthesia practice varies from 0.17 to 4.2%. The anesthesiologists' goal should be to minimize the risk of inciting bronchospasm and to avoid triggering stimuli. As increases in airway resistance are noticed, therapy should be directed towards optimizing oxygenation and proper diagnosis needs to be established. With deepening anesthesia level and aggressive pharmacological management utilizing both, beta-agonists and steroids, respiratory failure may be properly controlled.     

Lebensbedrohlicher Bronchospasmus bei Narkoseeinleitung

This article reports a case of live-threatening respiratory failure during induction of anesthesia. An 18-year-old female was admitted to hospital for an axillary abscess incision on a public holiday. The patient had a history of asthmatic episodes and an allergy to milk protein and 2 years previously an asthmatic attack had possibly been treated by mechanical ventilation. Retrospectively, this event turned out to be a cardiac arrest with mechanical ventilation for 24?h. During induction of anesthesia the patient suddenly developed massive bronchospasms and ventilation was impossible for minutes. Oxygen saturation fell below 80% over a period of 12?min with a lowest measurement of 13%. The patient was treated with epinephrine, prednisolone, antihistamine drugs, ?(2)-agonists, s-ketamine and methylxanthines and 15?min later the oxygen saturation returned to normal values. After mild therapeutic hypothermia for 24?h mechanical ventilation was still required for another 4 days. The patient recovered completely and was discharged home on day 19. Initially propofol was suspected of having caused an anaphylactic shock but in retrospect, the diagnosis of near fatal asthma was more likely. The onset of the event was facilitated by the patient playing down the history of asthmatic episodes due to a strong wish for independency and negation of the severity of the disease.     

Inhalative und intravenöse Anästhesie bei Kindern

Inhalation as well as total intravenous anesthesia have both advantages and disadvantages. The pros of an inhalation technique are mask induction without the initial need for intravenous access and precise dosing; the pros of an intravenous technique are postoperative quiet recovery and a low incidence of vomiting. With both techniques the aim is to reach a certain, most often constant effect site concentration, which after a short latent period equals the blood concentration. Initially, with both techniques a higher dosing is required to wash in the compound. An inhalational technique allows the end-tidal concentration to be measured and dosing to be adjusted. Dosing of intravenous anesthetics is based on assumptions. For neonates and young infants an inhalation technique is often preferred because of metabolic immaturity and the resulting difficulties of dosing, whereas older children can often profit from a quiet awakening and a reduced incidence of vomiting. The increased availability of syringe pumps with incorporated algorithms as well as of electroencephalograph (EEG)-based monitoring systems will further promote the popularity of total intravenous anesthesia.     

Serious Complications Related to Regional Anesthesia: Results of a Prospective Survey in France

Background: Serious complications related to regional anesthesia have previously been described primarily in case reports and retrospective surveys. The authors prospectively evaluated a multicenter series of regional anesthetics, using preplanned criteria to measure the incidence and characteristics of associated serious complications.

Methods: Requests were sent to 4,927 French anesthesiologists in advance of a subsequent 5-month study period. Participating anesthesiologists were asked for detailed reports of serious complications occurring during or after regional anesthetics performed by them during the study interval. Details regarding each complication then were obtained via a second questionnaire.

Results: The number of responding anesthesiolgists was 736. The number of regional anesthetics performed was 103,730, corresponding to 40,640 spinal anesthetics, 30,413 epidural anesthetics, 21,278 peripheral nerve blocks, and 11,229 intravenous regional anesthetics. Reports of 98 severe complications were received, with follow-up information being obtained for 97. In 89 cases, complications were attributed fully or partially to regional anesthesia. Thirty-two cardiac arrests, seven of which were fatal, occurred during the study. Of these, 26 occurred during spinal anesthesia, with 6 being fatal, 3 occurred during epidural anesthesia, and 3 more occurred during peripheral blocks. The higher incidence of cardiac arrest during spinal anesthesia (6.4 +/- 1.2 per 10,000 patients) compared with all other regional anesthesia (1.0 +/- 0.4 per 10,000 patients) was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Of 34 neurologic complications (radiculopathy, cauda equina syndrome, paraplegia), 21 were associated either with paresthesia during puncture (n = 19) or with pain during injection (n = 2), suggesting nerve trauma or intraneural injection. Twelve patients who had neurologic complications after spinal anesthetics had no paresthesia during needle placement and no pain on injection. Of these 12 patients (7 with radiculopathy and 5 with cauda equina syndrome), 9 received intrathecal hyperbaric lidocaine, 5%. The incidence of neurologic injury was significantly greater after spinal anesthesia (6 +/- 1 per 10,000 cases; P < 0.05) than after each of the other types of regional procedures (1.6 +/- 0.5 per 10,000 cases for the weighted average). Seizures attributed to elevated serum levels of local anesthetics occurred in 23 patients, but none suffered a cardiac arrest.