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[Hearing loss after spinal anesthesia. An audiological controlled trial]
A Walsted1, G Salomon, K S Olsen
1Københavns øre-, naese- og halsafdelingen, Amts Sygehus i Glostrup.
Ugeskrift for Laeger
|September 20, 1993
Summary
Spinal anesthesia may cause low-frequency hearing loss due to cerebrospinal fluid loss. This condition, similar to endolymphatic hydrops, can be treated with an epidural blood patch.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Neurosurgery
- Anesthesiology
Background:
- Audiological assessments were performed on 34 patients undergoing spinal anesthesia.
- The study aimed to investigate potential auditory changes associated with the procedure.
Observation:
- One patient experienced significant unilateral low-frequency hearing loss post-procedure.
- This hearing loss resolved after receiving an epidural blood patch.
Findings:
- A novel, small but significant auditory threshold shift at 500 Hz was observed in the patient cohort.
- The unilateral hearing loss is hypothesized to be linked to perilymphatic hypotension caused by cerebrospinal fluid leakage.
Implications:
- The findings suggest a potential link between spinal anesthesia and hearing dysfunction.
- The mechanism may resemble endolymphatic hydrops, offering a new perspective on auditory complications.
- Further research is warranted to explore the incidence and management of hearing loss after spinal anesthesia.