HYPERTONIC SALINE PREHYDRATION IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING TRANSURETHRAL RESECTION OF THE PROSTATE UNDER SPINAL-ANESTHESIA

Thirty-three patients undergoing elective transurethral resection of S he prostate were allocated randomly to receive either 0.9% isotonic sa line 7mlkg(-1) (16 patients), or 3% hypertonic saline 7mlkg(-1) (17 pa tients) as a preload before spinal anaesthesia. After spinal anaesthes ia, the incidence of systolic arterial pressure < 75% of control value was greater in the normal saline group than in she hypertonic saline group. Also, the mean dose of phenylephrine required to maintain arter ial pressure > 75% of the baseline value was significantly greater in she normal saline group than in the hypertonic saline group.