Selective spinal anesthesia for outpatient laparoscopy. III: Sufentanil vslidocaine-sufentanil

Purpose: The efficacy of low dose intrathecal lidocaine-sufentanil was comp ared with intrathecal sufentanil for short duration outpatient gynecologica l laparoscopy. Methods: Thirteen ASA I and II patients undergoing gynecological laparoscop y were studied in a randomized double-blind trial. Patients received either intrathecal 10 mg lidocaine plus 10 mug sufentanil (Group LS) or intrathec al 20 mug sufentanil (Group S), each diluted to 3 ml with sterile water thr ough a 27g Whitacre needle in the sitting position. Sensory and motor recov ery were assessed with pinprick and a modified Bromage scale. Results: One of seven Group LS patients and two of five Group S patients re quired conversion to general anesthesia for failed skin test with forceps. Two of the remaining three Group S patients felt. sharpness with skin incis ion. The study was terminated early because of inadequate anesthesia in Gro up S. The small sample size (n=9) made statistical analysis uninformative. Conclusion: Intrathecal 20 mug sufentanil is unsuitable as a sole agent for gynecological laparoscopy.