Abstract:

Aim: Benign anorectal diseases are common surgical procedures in general surgery. Various anesthetic techniques are utilized during surgical procedures. In this study, postoperative headache, urinary retention, and back pain were evaluated in patients operated under spinal anesthesia. Method: The incidence of postoperative headache, urinary retention and back pain was evaluated in patients operated under spinal anesthesia for benign anorectal disease (hemorrhoidal disease, pilonidal cyst, anal abscess, anal polyps, anal fissure, and anal fistulas) between January 1, 2016 and January 1, 2017. Patients for whom data was not available or who were operated under general or local anesthesia were excluded from the study. Results: Of the 302 patients whose data could be reached, 242 (80.1%) were operated under spinal anesthesia, 56 (18.5%) were operated under local anesthesia, and 4 (1.3%) were operated under general anesthesia within the 1-year period evaluated. Patients operated under spinal anesthesia included 152 (62.8%) patients with pilonidal cyst, 29 (12%) with hemorrhoidal disease, 41 (16.9%) with anal fistulas, 13 (5.4%) with anal abscess, 5 (2.1%) with anal fissures, and 2 (0.8%) with anal polyps. Postoperative headache was seen in 6 (2.5%) of the patients operated under spinal anesthesia, 3 (50%) of whom required rehospitalization for headache. The patients were treated conservatively with fluid replacement, caffeine, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory therapy. Urinary retention was seen in 6 (2.5%) patients and treated with temporary urinary catheterization. Permanent urinary retention was not seen any of the patients. None (0%) of the patients had back pain. Conclusion: Spinal anesthesia has low complication rates and can be a preferred anesthetic technique for benign anorectal disease surgery.

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