Spinal Anaesthesia - Complications

Complications

Can be broadly classified as immediate (on the operating table) or late (in the ward or in the P.A.C.U. post-anaesthesia care unit):

• Spinal shock.
• Cauda equina injury.
• Cardiac arrest.
• Hypothermia.
• Broken needle.
• Bleeding resulting in haematoma, with or without subsequent neurological sequelae due to compression of the spinal nerves
• Infection: immediate within six hours of the spinal anaesthetic manifesting as meningism or meningitis or late, at the site of injection, in the form of pus discharge, due to improper sterilization of the LP set.
• PDPH:post dural puncture head ache or post spinal head ache