The present study was designed to determine the degree of hearing
deficit in patients assigned to receive spinal anesthesia, and to determine
if the incidence is related to the size of spinal needle. The study com
prised 26 male patients assigned to receive spinal anesthesia using ei
ther a 22-gauge (Group I) or a 26-gauge (Group II) spincd needle. Audiometricstudies
were performed preoperatively and 24 hr after operation,
and the decrease of hearing level was determined. For patients with de
creased hearing level by >10 dB, a third ccudiometry was performed 7
• days postoperatively. There was a decrease of hearing levels of varied in
tensity in all patients included in both groups; however, the mean change
in hearing level was significant in group I on both sides. In group I, there
was a significant (P<0.05) bilateral decrease of hearing level at 125, 250,
500 and 1000 Hz, while a non-significant decrease at 2000, 3000, 4000
and 6000 Hz compared to the preoperative levels, and a decrease of 10
dB or more at anyfiequency occurred in 9 of 13 patients (92.3%) in group
I and in 4 of 13 patients (30.7%) in group H. Seven days after operation,
the 13 patients with decreased hearing level by >10 dB were reevaluated,
and persistent decrease in hearing level by lOdB was reported in
only one patient in group I. We can conclude that the, temporary hearing
' loss is one of postspinal complications that occurs by an incidence of
50%; however, this incidence can be reduced by the use of more fine spinalneedles.; |
