Spinal anaesthesia for urological surgery. A survey of failure rate, postdural puncture headache and patient satisfaction.

A survey was conducted on 100 consecutive patients who underwent spinal anaesthesia in our urology operating theatres. Details of the spinal technique were recorded in the operating theatre. In 25% of patients, more than one attempt at subarachnoid puncture was required and 16% of this group went on to require general anaesthesia. The patients were visited between 24 and 48 h postoperatively by one of the authors. On questioning, 24% of patients reported a headache, which had the characteristics associated with dural puncture; 62% of these headaches were described as moderate or severe and lasted between 12 and 24 h. Patients were significantly (p < 0.05) more likely to develop a postdural puncture headache if more than one attempt at subarachnoid puncture was made.