Spinal versus epidural anesthesia during transurethral resection of the prostate

The operative superiority of epidural anesthesia during transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) stimulated this study. Twenty patients scheduled for TURP were randomly allocated to receive either spinal anesthesia (n = 10) with 8 ml bupivacaine 0.5%+ 5ml lignocaine 2%. During and after the operative procedure, PR, BP, ECG, and pulse oximetry were monitored, and blood Hb and Hct, plasma free Hb, and serum sodium and potassium levels were measured. Both techniques resulted in similar PR and BP changes. TURP with spinal anesthesia resulted in more prolonged period of hyponatremia and more increased duration of raised plasma free Hb.