The selection of the regional anaesthesia in the transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) operation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to compare the three different regional anaesthesia methods in patients who underwent transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and to determine the ideal anaesthesia method for TURP operation. METHODS: Totally 77 ASA II-III patients were preloaded with 500 ml 0.9% NaCl solution before regional anaesthesia. In group E (n:27) epidural anaesthesia were achieved by applying 75 mg bupivacaine heavy + 50 microg fentanyl in the L3-L4 intervertebral space. In group SP (n:28) 15 mg bupivacaine heavy + 50 microg fentanyl were used for spinal anaesthesia (L3-L4 intervertebral space) while in group SA (n:30) 10 mg bupivacaine heavy + 50 microg fentanyl were used with saddle blockade. Systolic arterial pressure (SAP), heart rate (HR), peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), serum sodium measurement was recorded before and after hydration and during operation. The motor block and sensory level have been measured. RESULTS: Intraoperative SAP values were more stable than the other groups in group SA. The decrease in HR values were significant 15 minutes after prehydration in three groups (p < 0.05). SpO2 values of the groups were stable during the operation. The time to reach the maximum block was very short in patients in Group SA (p < 0.0001). There was a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of motor block values (p < 0.0001). No fully paralysed sample was seen in Group SA even though there was a sufficient surgical anaesthesia. CONCLUSIONS: Saddle block has some advantages compared to spinal and epidural anaesthesia methods such as achieving adequate anaesthesia, stable haemodynami, the lower degree of motor blockage and no full blockage in patients. Saddle block is an the most optimal anaesthesia method for TURP operation.