Continuous spinal anesthesia with high dose of local anesthetics

Imbelloni, Luiz Eduardo; Gasparini Neto, Savino; Ganem, Eliana Marisa

doi:10.1590/S0034-70942010000500010

Abstracts

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Better control of the level, intensity, and duration of spinal analgesia represents the greatest advantages of continuous spinal anesthesia. With the advent of intermediate catheters (over-the-needle catheter) and its low incidence of headaches and neurological symptoms, the technique has been gaining credibility. The objective of this paper is to report the possible safety of the new catheter with a large dose of hyperbaric 0.5% bupivacaine with 1.6% glucose associated with hyperbaric 2% lidocaine with 1.6% glucose. CASE REPORT: Male patient, 78 years old, 85 kg, 168 cm, physical status ASA III, with hypertension, coronary artery disease, and chronic renal failure. The patient was candidate for surgery for huge bilateral inguinal and umbilical hernias, being submitted to preoperative pneumoperitoneum for one week to stretch abdominal cavity. After venoclysis with an 18G catheter, he was monitored with cardioscope, non-invasive blood pressure, and pulse oximetry; he was sedated with 1 mg of midazolam and 100 µg of fentanyl intravenously, and placed in left lateral decubitus. He underwent continuous spinal anesthesia by a median puncture in L3-L4 with a set with a 27G cut-bevel needle and 22G catheter. The total dose of anesthetic used was 25 mg of 0.5% bupivacaine (hyperbaric, with 1.6% glucose), 160 mg of 2% lidocaine (hyperbaric, with 1.6% glucose), and morphine (100 µg). The patient was followed-up until the 30th postoperative day without neurological complaints. CONCLUSIONS: Recently, the poor distribution of the local anesthetic through the microcatheter was attributed as the cause of cauda equina syndrome. This case report showed that, with the administration of high doses of hyperbaric anesthetics through the new catheter, poor distribution or risk of cauda equina syndrome were not observed

ANESTHETIC, Local; ANESTHETIC TECHNIQUE, Regional; SURGERY, Abdominal

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A maior vantagem da raquianestesia contínua é o melhor controle de nível, intensidade e duração da analgesia espinal. Com o advento dos cateteres intermediários (cateter por foral da agulha) e sua baixa incidência de cefaleia e sintomas neurológicos, a técnica vem ganhando credibilidade. O objetivo de caso é relatar a possível segurança do uso do novo cateter com grande dose de bupivacaína hiperbárica a 0,5% com glicose a 1,6% associada à lidocaína 2% hiperbárica com glicose a 1,6%. RELATO DO CASO: Paciente do sexo masculino, 78 anos, 85 kg, 168 cm, estado físico ASA III, hipertenso, coronariopata e insuficiência renal crônica. Candidato à cirurgia de volumosas hérnias inguinal bilateral e umbilical, sendo submetido por uma semana a pneumoperitôneo para criar espaço. Após venóclise com cateter 18G, monitoração com cardioscópio, pressão arterial não invasiva e oximetria de pulso, foi sedado com 1 mg de midazolam e fentanil 100 µg por via venosa e colocado em decúbito lateral esquerdo. Submetido à raquianestesia contínua por via mediana em L3-L4, com conjunto de agulha cortante 27G e cateter 22G. A dose total de anestésico utilizada no procedimento foi 25 mg de bupivacaína 0,5% (hiperbárica com glicose a 1,6%) e 160 mg de lidocaína 2% (hiperbárica com glicose a 1,6%) e morfina (100 µg). Paciente acompanhado até o 30º dia sem queixa neurológica. CONCLUSÕES: Recentemente, a má distribuição do anestésico local através de microcateter foi atribuída como causa de síndrome de cauda equina. Este relato de caso mostrou que, com a administração de altas doses de anestésicos hiperbáricos através do novo cateter, não houve má distribuição nem risco de síndrome de cauda equina

ANESTÉSICO, Local; CIRURGIA, Abdominal; TÉCNICAS ANESTÉSICAS, Regional

JUSTIFICATIVA Y OBJETIVOS: La mayor ventaja de la raquianestesia continua es el mejor control del nivel de intensidad y duración de la analgesia espinal. Con el advenimiento de los catéteres intermediarios (catéter por fuera de la aguja) y por su baja incidencia de cefalea y síntomas neurológicos, la técnica ha venido ganando credibilidad. El objetivo de este caso es relatar la posible seguridad del uso del nuevo catéter con una gran dosis de bupivacaína hiperbárica al 0,5% con glucosa al 1,6% asociada a la lidocaína al 2% hiperbárica y con glucosa al 1,6%. RELATO DEL CASO: Paciente masculino, de 78 años, 85 kg, 168 cm, estado físico ASA III, hipertenso, con coronariopatía e insuficiencia renal crónica. Candidato a cirugía de voluminosas hernias inguinales bilateral y umbilical, siendo sometido durante una semana a neumoperitoneo para crear espacio. Posteriormente a la venoclisis con catéter 18G, monitorización con cardioscopio, presión arterial no invasiva y oximetria de pulso, fue sedado con 1 mg de midazolam y fentanil 100 µg por vía venosa y colocado en decúbito lateral izquierdo. Sometido a la raquianestesia continua por vía mediana en L3-L4, y conjunto de aguja cortante 27G con catéter 22G. La dosis total de anestésico utilizada en el procedimiento fue 25 mg de bupivacaína al 0,5% (hiperbárica con glucosa al 1,6%) y 160 mg de lidocaína al 2% (hiperbárica con glucosa al 1,6%) y morfina (100 µg). Paciente con seguimiento hasta el 30º día sin quejidos neurológicos. CONCLUSIONES: Recientemente, la mala distribución del anestésico local a través de microcatéter, se atribuyó a una causa del síndrome de cola de caballo. Este relato de caso mostró que, con la administración de altas dosis de anestésicos hiperbáricos a través del nuevo catéter, no hubo una mala distribución ni el riesgo de síndrome de cola de caballo

CLINICAL INFORMATION

Luiz Eduardo Imbelloni, TSA^I; Savino Gasparini Neto^II; Eliana Marisa Ganem^III

^IAnesthesiologist

^IITCBC, FACS, General Surgeon

^IIIPhD, Assisting Professor of the Anesthesiology Department, Escola de Medicina de Botucatu, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil

Correspondence to

SUMMARY

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Better control of the level, intensity, and duration of spinal analgesia represents the greatest advantages of continuous spinal anesthesia. With the advent of intermediate catheters (over-the-needle catheter) and its low incidence of headaches and neurological symptoms, the technique has been gaining credibility. The objective of this paper is to report the possible safety of the new catheter with a large dose of hyperbaric 0.5% bupivacaine with 1.6% glucose associated with hyperbaric 2% lidocaine with 1.6% glucose.

CASE REPORT: Male patient, 78 years old, 85 kg, 168 cm, physical status ASA III, with hypertension, coronary artery disease, and chronic renal failure. The patient was candidate for surgery for huge bilateral inguinal and umbilical hernias, being submitted to preoperative pneumoperitoneum for one week to stretch abdominal cavity. After venoclysis with an 18G catheter, he was monitored with cardioscope, non-invasive blood pressure, and pulse oximetry; he was sedated with 1 mg of midazolam and 100 µg of fentanyl intravenously, and placed in left lateral decubitus. He underwent continuous spinal anesthesia by a median puncture in L3-L4 with a set with a 27G cut-bevel needle and 22G catheter. The total dose of anesthetic used was 25 mg of 0.5% bupivacaine (hyperbaric, with 1.6% glucose), 160 mg of 2% lidocaine (hyperbaric, with 1.6% glucose), and morphine (100 µg). The patient was followed-up until the 30th postoperative day without neurological complaints.

CONCLUSIONS: Recently, the poor distribution of the local anesthetic through the microcatheter was attributed as the cause of cauda equina syndrome. This case report showed that, with the administration of high doses of hyperbaric anesthetics through the new catheter, poor distribution or risk of cauda equina syndrome were not observed.

Keywords: ANESTHETIC, Local: bupivacaine, lidocaine; ANESTHETIC TECHNIQUE, Regional: continuous spinal anesthesia; SURGERY, Abdominal: herniorrhaphy.

RESUMEN

JUSTIFICATIVA Y OBJETIVOS: La mayor ventaja de la raquianestesia continua es el mejor control del nivel de intensidad y duración de la analgesia espinal. Con el advenimiento de los catéteres intermediarios (catéter por fuera de la aguja) y por su baja incidencia de cefalea y síntomas neurológicos, la técnica ha venido ganando credibilidad. El objetivo de este caso es relatar la posible seguridad del uso del nuevo catéter con una gran dosis de bupivacaína hiperbárica al 0,5% con glucosa al 1,6% asociada a la lidocaína al 2% hiperbárica y con glucosa al 1,6%.

RELATO DEL CASO: Paciente masculino, de 78 años, 85 kg, 168 cm, estado físico ASA III, hipertenso, con coronariopatía e insuficiencia renal crónica. Candidato a cirugía de voluminosas hernias inguinales bilateral y umbilical, siendo sometido durante una semana a neumoperitoneo para crear espacio. Posteriormente a la venoclisis con catéter 18G, monitorización con cardioscopio, presión arterial no invasiva y oximetria de pulso, fue sedado con 1 mg de midazolam y fentanil 100 µg por vía venosa y colocado en decúbito lateral izquierdo. Sometido a la raquianestesia continua por vía mediana en L₃-L₄, y conjunto de aguja cortante 27G con catéter 22G. La dosis total de anestésico utilizada en el procedimiento fue 25 mg de bupivacaína al 0,5% (hiperbárica con glucosa al 1,6%) y 160 mg de lidocaína al 2% (hiperbárica con glucosa al 1,6%) y morfina (100 µg). Paciente con seguimiento hasta el 30º día sin quejidos neurológicos.

CONCLUSIONES: Recientemente, la mala distribución del anestésico local a través de microcatéter, se atribuyó a una causa del síndrome de cola de caballo. Este relato de caso mostró que, con la administración de altas dosis de anestésicos hiperbáricos a través del nuevo catéter, no hubo una mala distribución ni el riesgo de síndrome de cola de caballo.

INTRODUCTION

Continuous spinal anesthesia has some advantages over spinal anesthesia with a single dose, being possible to titrate the level of analgesia and the extent of its duration according to the needs of the surgery or control of postoperative pain. In 1990, a 32G microcatheter was developed which was introduced through a 26G needle ¹. In 1991, it was suspected that the microcatheter could cause cauda equina syndrome after four cases were reported ², which led the FDA to issue an alert about its use.

In 1999, a new system for continuous spinal anesthesia to be used in anesthesia and control of postoperative pain ^4,5 as well as obstetric analgesia ⁶ was described. It is composed of a 22G and 24G catheter over a 27G and 29G cut-bevel needle (Spinocath^TM) measuring 72 cm in length. The over-the-needle design eliminates leakage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) since the catheter seals immediately the dura-mater orifice. The intermediate-size catheter allows high flow, promoting easy homogenization of the anesthetic solution with the CSF, easy barbotage, and eliminated the potential risk of cauda equina syndrome.

The objective of this case report was to demonstrate the effectivity of continuous spinal anesthesia in a high risk patient undergoing a long duration surgery using high doses of local anesthetics.

CASE REPORT

This is a 78 years old male patient weighing 85 kg, 168 cm, and physical status ASA III. He was scheduled for surgery of bilateral inguinal and umbilical hernias. His medical history included hypertension, coronary artery disease, and chronic renal failure under conservative treatment. He had huge bilateral inguinal and umbilical hernias (Figures 1 and 2). He was being treated with aprozide (150/12.5 mg) for blood pressure control. Renal failure was being treated conservatively. He was hospitalized for one week for preoperative pneumoperitoneum by daily puncture and injection of air to stretch abdominal cavity and accommodate the huge herniated viscera.

After venoclysis with an 18G catheter, monitoring with a cardioscope, non-invasive blood pressure, and pulse oximetry was instituted. The patient was sedated with 1 mg of midazolam and 100 µg of fentanyl, intravenously. With the patient on left lateral decubitus, after antisepsis with 70% alcohol and placement of a fenestrated field, the point demarcated as the L3-L4 space was infiltrated with 5 mL of 1% lidocaine. An 18G Crawford needle using the loss of resistance technique was used in the approach of the epidural space. A 22G catheter over a 27G needle (Spinocath^TM, B. Braun - Melsungen) was introduced in the dura mater through the Crawford needle, perforating it after the introduction of only 20 mm. Paresthesia was not observed and the reflow of CSF could be identified. The needle of the catheter was removed suing the retractor in the proximal tip of the system. Afterwards, the Crawford needle was removed. The luer connector was installed.

The catheter was fixed to the back of the patient. Four milliliters of isobaric 0.5% bupivacaine were mixed with 1 mL of hyperbaric 0.5% bupivacaine with 8% glucose, diluting the glucose to 1.6% and the same concentration of bupivacaine (Table I). The total volume of the solution was maintained in a 5 mL syringe. Fifteen milligrams (3 mL) of this solution were injected through the catheter. The remaining was used for further administration. After 10 minutes, the sensorial blockade reached the level of the T11 dermatome and the motor blockade did not reach 3 in the modified Bromage scale. Upon incision for correction of the umbilical hernia, the patient complained of pain. Another 2 mL (10 mg) of the same solution were injected and the patient was placed on a head-down position of 30º, and we waited 10 minutes before restarting the surgery. The level of the blockade was still unsatisfactory. A new solution was prepared with 2% lidocaine with 1.6% glucose by adding 1 mL of the solution of hyperbaric lidocaine with 8% glucose to 4 mL of the isobaric 2% lidocaine solution. One milliliter (20 mg) of this solution was then injected every 5 minutes, until the third dose, with the patient on a 30º head-down position. After the third dose, the sensorial blockade reached enough level for surgery, which was restarted by repairing the umbilical hernia.

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After correction of the umbilical hernia, the repair of the left inguinal hernia was initiated without complaints. After two hours and thirty minutes, the patient complained of pain and another 2 mL of the solution of lidocaine with 1.6% glucose were injected. A total of 25 mg of 0.5% bupivacaine (hyperbaric, with 1.6% glucose) and 160 mg of 2% lidocaine (hyperbaric, with 1.6% glucose) were used in the procedure, and the surgery lasted seven hours. Bradycardia and hypotension were not observed during the procedure.

At the end of the surgery, 100 µg of morphine were injected through the catheter for control of postoperative pain. The catheter was removed at the end of the surgery and the patient was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Eight hours after placing the catheter, the patient complained of pain and was able to move the lower limbs. The patient was discharged from the ICU to the regular floor on the second postoperative day (PO), being discharged from the hospital on the 4^th PO day. Phone follow-up on the 10^th, 20^th, and 30^th days did not reveal any neurological complaints.

DISCUSSION

Better control of the level, intensity, and duration of anesthesia is the greatest advantage of continuous spinal anesthesia. By controlling the level of sensorial blockade, we can achieve better cardiocirculatory stability ⁷ and the presence of the catheter guarantees the administration of further doses. In the present case, the catheter was fundamental for maintenance of the technique with excellent cardiocirculatory stability.

When continuous spinal anesthesia is used in orthopedics⁵ or obstetric analgesia ⁶, the catheter-over-the needle is recommended. This catheter seals immediately the orifice in the dura-mater avoiding leakage of CSF through the puncture orifice. Since the set has a second orifice 5 mm from its tip, there is no need of introducing it more than 20 mm in the subarachnoid space. Preparations in cadavers for endoscopic studies demonstrated that all catheters introduced over 30 mm in the subarachnoid space developed loops ⁸. When the catheter is removed, a loop could get entangled on a nerve root, causing direct trauma to the nerve by strangulation ⁸. In the present case, the catheter was introduced no more than 20 mm, enough for injections, without any problems upon its removal.

The cauda equina syndrome was correlated to the use of continuous spinal anesthesia with a microcatheter and high doses of local anesthetics ^2,9 leading to a reduction in the use of this technique. The poor distribution of the local anesthetic, which remained confined to the sacral region, was one of the mechanisms blamed for this syndrome ^9,10. Laboratorial analysis ⁹ showed that the low speed of injection of the microcatheter attributed to its small diameter was responsible for the poor distribution of the local anesthetic, with accumulation of toxic concentration on the roots of the cauda equina. In the present study, an incomplete motor blockade and insufficient sensorial level was observed, but it was possible to complete the dose of bupivacaine, necessary for analgesia of the upper abdomen, and lidocaine to maintain analgesia of the lower abdomen to complete the procedure. The head-down position prevented sequestration of the solution at the dural cul-desac, therefore protecting the sacral roots.

The majority of the cases of post-spinal anesthesia cauda equina syndrome reported were in association with the administration of lidocaine and tetracaine ^2,11. The limited cephalad extension of the sensorial blockade, suggesting restricted distribution of lidocaine in the CSF probably resulted in a toxic effect of the local anesthetic ^2,9-11. It is believed that the toxic effect of the local anesthetic is seen especially in the cauda equina because the nerve roots that form the sacral roots are (a) longer (and more numerous for S1) than their lumbar neighbors, (b) they do not have a protective sheath, and (c) due to their position in the subarachnoid space (especially L₅, S₁, and S₂), they are more exposed to the sacral sequestration of the local hyperbaric anesthetic ¹². In the present case, we chose bupivacaine. However, after the programmed dose of 25 mg it was decided to switch to lidocaine, of shorter duration, which would benefit recovery in the last hours of surgery. By using the 22G set, poor distribution of either of the drugs was not observed resulting in fast recovery of the motor and sensorial blockade without transitory or definitive neurological complications.

The risk of transitory neurologic symptoms (TNS) was not eliminated by reducing the dose and concentration of lidocaine from 5% to 2%, or even as low as 0.5% ^13,14. Besides, not even the concentration of glucose ^15,16 or osmolarity of the local anesthetic solution¹⁶ affected the incidence of TNS. Animal and human studies have excluded glucose from any contribution to the nerve damage. Histological exams of the spinal cord of rats exposed to intrathecal glucose and neostigmine did not show nerve damage ¹⁷. However, studies in diabetic rats raised the possibility that the altered glucose metabolism may contribute with the local anesthetic-induced nerve damage ¹⁸. Glucose 7.5% with 5% lidocaine did not cause neurologic damage in rats, neither did it affect the compound action potential of unsheathed nerves in bullfrogs²⁰. Several human studies relate glucose to the development of postspinal anesthesia TNS ²¹. The majority of animal and human studies confirm the safety of the glucose administered in the subarachnoid space in concentrations of up to 7.5%. In an experimental model in dogs, hyperbaric 5% lidocaine did not cause nerve damage when administered at a rate of 10 to 22 seconds. In another study with the same experimental model, in which hyperbaric 5% lidocaine was injected in the subarachnoid space over 60 seconds to reduce its diffusion in the CSF, 25% of the animals showed nerve damage ²³.

Poor distribution of the local anesthetic through the microcatheter has been recently implicated as a possible cause of cauda equina syndrome ^2,9-11. The administration of the hyperbaric local anesthetic through the Spinocath^TM did not show poor distribution, without an elevated peak in the concentration of the anesthetic, and without the risk of developing cauda equina syndrome ²⁴. Since in the present case the patient had three large hernias, it was decided to reduce the baricity of the solution by changing the glucose concentration and maintaining the concentration of bupivacaine (0.5%) and lidocaine (2%).

Although experimental animal studies have provided evidence that some local anesthetics in clinical concentration could cause damage to the nerve tissue, the exact mechanism of the lesion is not clearly defined. Possible etiologic factors capable of triggering neurotoxicity (elevated doses e concentrations of the local anesthetic) are not the same that trigger TNS. Evaluation of the conduction of the nerve impulse shows that, in neurotoxicity, it is irreversible ²⁵ and it is normal in patients with TNS ²⁶. Despite the knowledge that all local anesthetics could be neurotoxic in experimental models, large scale investigations on the complications of spinal anesthesia demonstrate the safety of the local anesthetic for spinal anesthesia in men.

The use of two anesthetics was justified by the long duration of the surgery and, after the programmed dose of bupivacaine, lidocaine was the drug chosen to avoid possible residual motor blockade in high risk patients. Under the conditions of our patient, spinal anesthesia proved to be satisfactory for a large surgery of long duration, with excellent cardiocirculatory stability and without adverse events.

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