Prevalence of Adductor Muscle Contraction Blindly Following Spinal Anesthesia in Bladder Tumor Surgery

Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor surgery is often managed by Spinal Anesthesia. This procedure sometimes due to direct electrical stimulation of Adductor muscles especially in lateral bladder masses may cause complications such as bladder perforation. In these cases other supplementary methods like peripheral nerve blocks may be needed.

124 patients enrolled in this prospective descriptive study to assess the incidence of adductor muscles spasm and bladder wall perforation. All the patients with bladder masses who needed TURT surgery in Shohada - e -Tajrish hospital participated in this study.

Only 8 patients (6/3%) of 124 participants who received spinal anesthesia with obturator nerve block had adductor muscles contraction and in 79% (1 patient) bladder perforation occurred.

In comparison to other studies with success rate of 89 to 100 percent, our study with conventional blind method showed 93/7% proper obturator nerve block. Anesthesiologist’s expertise and skillfulness play an important role in this matter. The proper use of adjunct instruments such as nerve locator and ultrasonography can improve success rate and decrease complications.