[Refractory Hypotension Induced by Continuous Phonation during Spinal Anesthesia in a Patient Suffering from Severe...

An 85-year-old man suffering from severe aortic ste- nosis underwent transurethral resection of the prostate (TUR-P) under spinal anesthesia producing analgesia below T7. TUR-P was performed uneventfully with repeated injections of phenylephrine 0.05 to 0.1 mg which kept systolic blood pressure around 100 mmHg. Refractory hypotension occurred in the intensive care unit two hours after spinal anesthesia when the patient continued to speak ; systolic blood pressure fell to 60 mmHg from 100 mmHg, and discontinuance of speak- ing restored the blood pressure, although injections of phenylephrine had no effect Four episodes of hypoten- sion occurred before the movement of lower extremi- ties was restored, 5.5 hours after spinal anesthesia. Refractory hypotension might have been the result of a decrease in venous return caused by increased intra- thoracic pressure during speaking, and sympatholysis and decreased abdominal compression by spinal anes- thesia combined with complicating cardiac dysfunction.