Assessment of the level of analgesia using a nerve stimulator

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   Purpose: To assess the level of analgesia using a peripheral nerve stimulator during spinal anesthesia.
   Methods: Forty patients receiving spinal anesthesia with hyperbaric 0.5% tetracaine were included. The spread of sensory blockade was assessed by cold sensation to an alcohol–soaked sponge, pain after pinprick, pain after 50 Hz (10 mA) tetanic stimulation and pain after 100 Hz (10 mA) tetanic stimulation.
   Results: There was no significant difference between the analgesic levels assessed by tetanic stimulation at frequencies of 50 Hz and 100 Hz. The analgesic level assessed by tetanic stimulation was two segments lower than that assessed by cold and one segment lower than that assessed by pinprick. In some cases, oozing occurred at pinprick points. There was no complication associated with tetanic stimulation.
   Conclusion: Tetanic stimulation using a peripheral nerve stimulator was a simple and safe method to assess the level of spinal anesthesia.