SPINAL-ANESTHESIA FOR DAY CASE SURGERY IN SPORTSPERSONS AND SEDENTARY PATIENTS

The effects of spinal anaesthesia were investigated in 67 sportspersons and in 128 sedentary patients (average age 31.8 +/- 6.2 yrs). The most frequent complaint in both groups was mild low back pain (27 cases vs. 58). Postspinal headache was severe and disabling, with an incidence of 13.4% in the sportspersons and 21.1% in the sedentary group. The sedentary group also showed a higher incidence of other postanaesthetic problems. Given the high rate of side effects, the young age of the subjects, and their desire to resume work as soon as possible after the operation, spinal anaesthesia is not the best anaesthetic procedure for this age group.