Abstract

The aim of the study is to find out the difference in the number of passes between landmark-guided midline and preprocedure ultrasound-guided paramedian techniques in spinal anesthesia. . After obtaining ethical committee approval, 128 patients satisfying inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited for the study. All consented patients scheduled to undergo elective surgery like TKR, THR, TURP, URSL, hernioplasty under spinal anaesthesia were included in this study. Informed written consent was obtained from all patients before procedure. Result: Time for identifying landmark in second was noted between two groups and analysis was done. It was found that time for identifying landmark in second in group A (14.91 ± 3.5) was very much less than the group B (92.55 ± 18.25) and this difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). After positioning and prior to administration of sedation patients were asked for their periprocedural pain scores measured using 11point verbal rating scale (0=no pain ,10=most pain imaginable). In our study periprocedural VAS score in group A was 3.11 ± 1.1 while in group B it was found to be 2.94 ± 0.77. Conclusion: The use of paramedian spinal anaesthesia guided by ultrasound scanning for the identification of landmarks significantly decreases the number of passes and attempts to enter into the subarachnoid space and gave better patient satisfaction.

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