Hemodynamic Stability during Spinal Anesthesia

Spinal anesthesia, also known as subarachnoid block, is a regional anesthesia technique often preferred over general anesthesia for surgeries involving the lower abdomen, perineum, and lower limbs. This approach helps avoid serious complications associated with general anesthesia, such as intubation difficulties, aspiration, and opioid-related issues. For lower limb surgeries, various anesthetic options are available, including general anesthesia, central neuraxial blocks, peripheral nerve blocks, and local anesthesia. Compared to general anesthesia, spinal anesthesia provides more stable vital signs, less postoperative pain, reduced blood loss, and a lower risk of deep vein thrombosis and delirium. However, spinal anesthesia can cause hypotension, bradycardia, and other cardiovascular effects due to sympathetic blockage, with hypotension being the most common complication. This is primarily due to decreased systemic vascular resistance and vasodilation, leading to reduced cardiac output. Despite these potential drawbacks, spinal anesthesia remains a widely used and effective technique for lower limb surgeries globally.