ASSESSMENT OF ANATOMICAL PREDICTOR FOR COMPLICATIONS IN SPINAL ANESTHESIA AMONG CESARIAN SECTION PATIENT IN BACHA KHAN MEDICAL COMPLEX SWABI

Abstract

The spinal anesthesia is one of the most commonly used techniques in case of cesarean deliveries; nevertheless, the technique is not without risks and any available insight into the anatomical factors that may predispose patients to the complications needs to be applied in the clinical practice uniformly. The aim and objective of the study was to determine the frequency of anatomically difficult spinal anesthesia in patients undergoing cesarean section ad investigate the anatomical factor predicting difficult spinal anesthesia. This was a cross-sectional analytical survey of one hundred and twenty patients who had undergone a cesarean section following spinal anesthesia. Of relevance to the research aims, data regarding various aspects of body structure was obtained including BMI, vertebral positioning, and the structural make-up of the vertebrae. The event of failure of block, hypotension, and post dural puncture headache were noted in the study. Through statistical assessment socio-demographic variables and anatomical predictors were evaluated in relation to the occurrence of complications. This work revealed that BMI and vertebral alignment were the two significant anatomical factors that determined complications. Spinal anesthesia complication rate was 30.1 % more frequent in obese and those patients who have the curved spine in comparison with normal weight and straight spine patients. Overall, the complication rate was 5.8% with hypotension dominating the list of complications and stuttering post-Dural puncture headaches. The anatomical factors were identified to have significant correlation with the development of complications during spinal anesthesia for cesarean sections: The BMI and the vertebral alignment. This knowledge on the predictors can be useful in the planning for anesthetic techniques that allow for a risk free exposure to anesthetic.