CONTINUOUS MICROSPINAL ANESTHESIA - ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE ON MECHANISMSINDUCING CAUDA-EQUINA SYNDROME

Continuous spinal anaesthesia through a microspinal catheter technique has been criticised on several grounds and is now rarely used. This p aper reviews the possible causes of the cauda equina syndrome which ha ve been described and, on the basis of research in cadaver preparation s, a glass 'spine' model and clinical experience in over 200 cases, su ggests how these problems might be avoided. The use of careful inserti on techniques, limiting the length of catheter inserted into the subar achnoid space and the use of no stronger than 0.5% bupivacaine solutio n are recommended.