At the moment , the evidence available can not prove that neuraxial anesthesia is more effective and safer than general anesthesia for urological surgery .
There were insufficient data to pool the results relating to mortality , stroke , myocardial infa rct ion , length of hospitalization , quality of life , degree of satisfaction , postoperative cognitive dysfunction and blood transfusion requirements
CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE Choosing the best anesthetic technique for urological surgery with the aim of mortality reduction remains controversial .
The objective here was to compare the effectiveness and safety of neuraxial anesthesia versus general anesthesia for urological surgery .
General versus spinal anesthesia in patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy: results of a prospective, randomized study.
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the impact of general anesthesia ( GA ) versus spinal anesthesia ( SpA ) on intraoperative and postoperative outcome in patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy . METHODS Seventy-two consecutive patients with clinical ly localized prostate cancer were r and omized into group 1  ( GA : 34 patients ) or group 2  ( L2-L3 or L3-L4 SpA : 38 patients ) and underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy .  The intraoperative and postoperative anesthetic and surgical variables were evaluated . RESULTS The mean + /- SEM operative time was not significantly different between the two groups ( P = 0.43 ) . The overall blood loss was less in group 2 ( P = 0.04 ) . The mean + /- SEM postoperative time in the postoperative holding area was significantly shorter after SpA than after GA ( P < 0.0001 ) . The perioperative pain outcome in the postoperative holding area was significantly better for group 2 than for group 1 ( P = 0.0017 ) , but postoperative pain on day 1 was not significantly different between the two groups . The postoperative sedation score was significantly less in group 2 than in group 1 ( P < 0.0001 ) . On day 1 , first flatus passed in a significantly larger number of patients in group 2 ( P < 0.0001 ) , and the overall gait was greater for group 2 patients ( P = 0.02 ) . CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that SpA allows good muscle relaxation and a successful surgical outcome in patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy for clinical ly localized prostate cancer . Moreover , SpA results in less intraoperative blood loss , less postoperative pain , and a faster postoperative recovery than GA
At the moment , the evidence available can not prove that neuraxial anesthesia is more effective and safer than general anesthesia for urological surgery .
There were insufficient data to pool the results relating to mortality , stroke , myocardial infa rct ion , length of hospitalization , quality of life , degree of satisfaction , postoperative cognitive dysfunction and blood transfusion requirements
CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE Choosing the best anesthetic technique for urological surgery with the aim of mortality reduction remains controversial .
The objective here was to compare the effectiveness and safety of neuraxial anesthesia versus general anesthesia for urological surgery .