[Transurethral procedures with sacral anesthesia]

Sacral anesthesia is a safe and effective procedure which we have used in 28 resections for benign prostatic hypertrophy, and in 42 resections of bladder tumors, 7 of them in women. The average age was 69 years. Average time for prostatic resection was 49 minutes and for bladder tumors, 23. Recovery from anesthesia averaged 78 minutes in both groups. In 44.3% of the patients there was no need for other medication during operation. Hemodynamic changes were minor and were controlled by fluid replacement in a third of the patients. Complications included convulsions (2 patients), severe headache (2), arrhythmias (5) and skin rash (1). There were no late sequelae. 0.5% marcaine was the most effective drug. The success rate was 77.1% in both groups; failures were due to technical difficulties.