Neuroendocrine and Hemodynamic Effects of General Anesthesia and Spinal Anesthesia For Minimally Invasive Lumbar Disc Surgery: A Randomized Trial

Background: Spinal anesthesia used as an alternative to general anesthesia in lumbar spinal surgical interventions could be implemented in all elective spinal surgical operations. We compared the neuroendocrine and hemodynamic effects of general and spinal anesthesia for minimally invasive lumbar disc surgery. Methods: Fifty-six patients classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) I-II were included in the study. Blood was drawn at 30 min and 6 and 24 h after surgery for determination of adrenocorticotropic hormone, cortisol, and glucose levels. Hemodynamic parameters were also recorded. Furthermore, the time of first voiding, the time of first mobilization, the time of first analgesic requirement, complications, and patient satisfaction were evaluated. Results: Significant differences were detected in cortisol values at 30 min after surgery (p=0.00). No significant differences were detected in the other blood values monitored (p>0.05). The time of first voiding and discharge time were shorter in the spinal group. Conclusion: As a result, our results show that spinal anesthesia can be a good alternative to general anesthesia for single-level lumbar disc surgery.