Saddle block spinal anesthesia and its effect on hemodynamic status and analgesia

Introduction: The sitting position is often used for patients undergoing spinal anesthesia especially when lower lumbar and sacral levels of sensory anesthesia are required. An advantage of this position is that the complications associated with it can be reduced. The present study assess the relation between saddle block anesthesia and the duration spent in sitting posture. Materials and Methods: Sixty ASA I and II patients were included in this study. In this randomized controlled study, patients planned to undergo perineal procedures were selected. Spinal anesthesia was given with 2.2 ml of 0.5 % hyperbaric bupivacaine and the patients were made to sit for one, six, twelve and twenty minutes before making them supine for the procedure. The data were analyzed using students ‘t' test and .Chi - Square test . Results: Better hemodynamic stability was achieved by increasing the duration of sitting posture after spinal anesthesia. Also duration of motor /sensory blockade was decreased by increasing the duration of sitting position. Conclusion: The study shows that the duration of sitting position is inversely related to the duration and extent of sensory and motor blockade. .Also better hemodynamic stability can be achieved with saddle block anesthesia.