A Prospective Study of Recovery Profile After Subarachnoid Block in Elderly Versus Young Patients

Abstract

A prospective observational cohort study was done to compare recovery profile of elderly patients as compared to young population and validate the new discharge criteria applied to them. Twenty one elderly patients (>65 yrs) having intertrochanteric fracture posted for open surgery were compared with similar number of young patients (20-40 yrs). Both the groups were operated under spinal anaesthesia with 2.5 ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine in L3-4 inter-space. Orthostatic challenge was given at 0, 30, 60 and 90 min in recovery room (RR) and variation in pulse rate & MAP was compared. Highest sensory level achieved was similar in both study groups but vasopressor requirement was more in elderly for maintaining haemodynamic stability. Sensory level was slow to regress in elderly patients. Despite having greater MAP fall in the elderly patients it was never more than 10% at any point of time till 90 min in RR. Shivering was common postoperative complica-tion in elderly patients. It was concluded that new discharge criteria could be safely applied to elderly patients and can lead to significant time saving in recovery room.

Keywords

• New discharge criteria
• Elderly patients
• Subarachnoid block
• RR (Recovery room).