Subarachnoid block with an anaesthetic mixture containing dextran. Cytologic changes in the cerebrospinal fluid

The present study included 22 patients who received an anaesthetic subarachnoid injection of 1.0--1.2 ml Dixidextracaine-70 (a mixture of xylocaine 40.0 mg+cinchocaine 10.0 mg+Dextran-70 60.0 mg+distilled water ad 2.0 ml), associated with adrenaline in a final concentration of 1/10000. Before and 24--168 hours after administration of the subarachnoid anaesthesia, 2.0 ml of cerebrospinal fluid was collected for quantitative and qualitative determination of the cellular elements and for physical and bacteriological examinations. No bacteriological contamination or qualitative and quantitative alterations of leucocytes in the cerebrospinal fluid were found after the administration of anaesthetic-dextran mixture. It is concluded that the association of Dextran-70 with xylocaine and percaine, as well as with adrenaline, for lengthening the duration of the subarachnoid anaesthesia has no acute irritative effect upon the central nervous system and its membranes in the course of seven days following its administration.