Comparison of Spinal Anesthesia in L3-L4 and L4-L5 on Sensory-Motor Block Level and Hemodynamic Status in Cesarean Section

The injection site in spinal anesthesia is one of the factors that can affect the height of the sensory block. This clinical trial study aimed to compare the effect of spinal anesthesia at L3-L4 and L4-L5 on the level of sensory-motor block and hemodynamic status in cesarean section.

Seventy patients undergoing elective cesarean section and receiving spinal anesthesia (10 mg of 0.5% bupivacaine plus 2.5 μg of sufentanil) were randomly divided into two groups of 35 with spinal anesthesia at L3-L4 (group 1) or L4-L5 (group 2). The two groups were compared concerning demographic data, hemodynamic status, level of sensory block, degree of motor block, time to return the sensory level to T10, complications of spinal anesthesia, and neonate Apgar score.

There was no significant difference between the two groups in the mean age (P=0.329). In the first group, 22.9%, and in the second group, 40% of the patients had the level of anesthesia at the eighth thoracic vertebra (T8). None of the patients had zero or one score in both groups. Hypotension (82.9% vs. 8.6%), bradycardia (34.3% vs. 8.6%), and intraoperative nausea and vomiting (65.7% vs. 11.4%) were higher in the first group than in the second group (P<0.001).

Performing spinal anesthesia in L4-L5 lumbar space, compared to L3-L4 space, in addition to creating a sufficient level of anesthesia, is associated with fewer complications, such as hypotension, bradycardia, as well as nausea and vomiting, in cesarean section.