Complications of continuous spinal anaesthesia

The practice of continuous spinal anaesthesia dates back to the beginning of the century. The history of the technique, and the problems which accompanied each method used, are reviewed. Complications encountered in current practice include post dural puncture headache; technical difficulties with insertion and removal of catheters; and a higher potential for nerve trauma, neurotoxicity, and method failure than seen with single-shot spinal anaesthesia. The question of the place of the technique in modern anaesthesia is addressed.