Segmental thoracic spinal anesthesia for abdominal surgery; a report of three cases

Abstract

Segmental thoracic spinal anesthesia (STSA) has recently been introduced in clinical practice, but still is not a common procedure. Although there have been some concerns about its potential complications, the method may benefit a specific subset of patients. We present the case reports of three patients, who were operated upon using the STSA technique. Two were performed as emergency procedures, and the third was an elective one. One of the three patients required minimal sedation near the end of the surgery, but none required general anesthesia or intensive care support. All patients recovered completely without complications and were discharged on Day 2. In certain patients, STSA may be a safe and beneficial alternative to general anesthesia. To demonstrate its potential benefit, risks, and use as a routine technique, adequately powered randomised, controlled clinical trials are required.

Keywords: Segmental; Thoracic; Spinal anesthesia; Elective; Emergency; Abdominal; Surgery.

Citation: Awang MA, Mohamad Yusof MF, Abd Razak MH. Segmental thoracic spinal anesthesia for abdominal surgery; a report of three cases. Anaesth. pain intensive care 2024;28(3):582−584; DOI: 10.35975/apic.v28i3.2334

Received: November 22, 2023; Revised: January 22, 2024; Accepted: February 24, 2024