Study of Sequential Combined Spinal-Epidural and Epidural Anesthesia

Regional anesthesia is preferred over general anesthesia for Gynecologic and orthopedic surgery and spinal anesthesia is often a choice. Spinal anesthesia is a simple and quick technique but it has risk of severe hypotension. Even though spinal anesthesia provides intense and reliable block, it has risk of limited duration of action. A more improved method called sequential Combined Spinal Epidural Anesthesia in which a dose intended to be inadequate for surgery is used in an attempt to reduce hypotension and the block is then deliberately extended to the desired level with the epidural drug. This technique is becoming increasingly popular because of various benefits mainly stable haemodynamic status and feasibility to prolong block for anesthesia and analgesia.