Evaluation criteria for efficiency of high spinal anesthesia during operations on the upper abdomen

The article presents the results of high spinal anesthesia use during operations on the upper abdomen. We have developed a technique for performing this type of regional anesthesia in patients with surgical diseases of the abdominal cavity. The study shows that high spinal anesthesia has significant advantages over other types of anesthesia, in particular, endotracheal anesthesia. The first is easily tolerated by patients and does not cause serious complications. In addition we have found that high spinal anesthesia doesn’t significantly affect the central hemodynamics as compared to endotrachealanesthesia and epidural anesthesia. In simplicity and technique of performing, as well as in materials high spinal anesthesia is similar to epidural anesthesia, but unlike the last it provides an adequate, long-lasting and high level pain relief of the abdominal cavity (as the upper abdomen, so the middle and the lower abdomen).