[Spinal anesthesia (author's transl)].

Because of our own experiences with more than 10,000 cases of spinal anesthesia without neurologic complications, it is emphasized that the method has regained clinical importance due to modernized techniques, new local anesthetics (lidocain, mepivacain, bupivacain), and a better understanding of the pathomechanisms involved. Restricting the spinal block to the D 8 dermatome level, thus avoiding side effects, and sticking to a clear-cut range of contraindications renders spinal anesthesia a method that compares favorably with that of general anesthesia in the high-risk patient.