Audiometric changes following spinal anaesthesia.

ABSTRACT

A prospective study on audiometric changes following spinal anaesthesia with different gauge spinal needles was carried out in 125 patients; the patients were randomly divided into five groups according to gauge of needles used i.e., 20, 22, 23, 24 and 25 with twenty five patients in each group. Twelve percent and 8% decrease in audiometric values were recorded on first postoperative day at 250-500 Hz frequencies with 20 and 22 gauge needles respectively and these changes were highly significant (P < 0.001); these audiometric alterations returned to within normal limits by the 5th postoperative day. Eight percent decrease in audiometric values were observed on first postoperative day at 250-500 Hz frequencies with 23 gauge needle which was also statistically significant (P < 0.05); these changes returned to near normal limits by the 5th postoperative day. There was no significant decrease in the audiometric values following spinal anaesthesia with 24 and 25 gauge needles.