SPINAL PHOBIA - SURVEY RESULTS OF PATIENT ATTITUDES AND PREFERENCES REGARDING ANESTHESIA

Study Objective: To determine unbiased patient preferences for either spinal or general anesthesia for upcoming surgeries. Design: Prior to contact with anesthesia personnel, a simple questionnaire was complete d by surgical patients to determine their demographic characteristics and previous anesthetic experiences. Their concerns regarding a list o f complications of general and spinal anesthesia and their preferences for general or spinal anesthesia if either method could be used were also determined. Setting: University-affiliated suburban community hos pital. Measurements and main results: The survey was completed by 254 patients. A preference for general over spinal anesthesia was expresse d by 80.2% of the patients responding. They expressed significantly mo re concerns regarding nausea/vomiting, sore throat, feeling sleepy, an d death with general anesthesia than with spinal anesthesia. Concerns of back pain, nerve damage and paralysis were statistically related to spinal anesthesia. Conclusions: This survey shows a strong patient pr eference for general anesthesia and a phobia for spinal anesthesia.