Comparative evaluation of spinal versus epidural anesthesia in lower limb orthopedic surgery: Hemodynamic stability...

Regional anesthesia remains essential in lower limb orthopedic surgeries for providing effective intraoperative anesthetic control and post-operative analgesia with fewer systemic side effects. Therefore, it is of interest to evaluate the fifty patients undergoing elective lower limb orthopedic procedures to assess spinal versus epidural anesthesia in relation to hemodynamic stability and block duration. Twenty-five patients received hyperbaric bupivacaine via spinal route and twenty-five received bupivacaine through a lumbar epidural catheter. Spinal anesthesia demonstrated faster onset and denser surgical block but was associated with higher incidence of hypotension and bradycardia. Epidural anesthesia produced slower onset yet maintained better hemodynamic stability along with prolonged post-operative analgesia. Thus, data shows the both techniques are safe and effective, with choice guided by surgical duration, patient profile and post-operative pain management requirements.