Assessment of knowledge and awareness of spinal anesthesia among surgeons.
Authors: Haddad Asaad , Yousef Ibrahim , Ruqmani Najwa 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Introduction
Anesthesia is a medical procedure in which the patient is given certain medications that cause the patient to lose sensation and feeling. Anesthesia is either local in a specific area of the body, where the anesthetic drug is given in that area, or general anesthesia that affects the entire body and is performed in major surgeries. In general anesthesia, a drug is given that circulates in the bloodstream, causing the person to become unconscious. This medication can be given into a vein or it can be inhaled whereas regional anesthesia occurs when a local anesthetic is injected into an area of the body around major nerve bundles. Many parts of the body such as the abdomen, eyes, hands and feet can be operated under regional anesthesia while the patient is awake. Anesthesia usually lasts from 12 to 18 hours, and the patient will not feel pain during this period after the operation.
Research Objective
A study of the awareness of surgeons towards regional anesthesia in surgical procedures, and given the prevalence of spinal anesthesia in Syrian hospitals more than other types of regional anesthesia (epidural - nerve block), this study focuses on the awareness of surgeons about spinal anesthesia.
Materials and methods
A cross-sectional study conducted at Al-Mowasat Hospital from 20/5/2023 to 1/7/2023. The sample size was calculated using the survey monkey website, and it was 307 physicians, with a confidence level of 95% and an error rate of 5%.
Results
· We found a statistically significant relation between the use of spinal anesthesia in order to avoid the risks of general anesthesia for patients with high-risk systemic disease, and the type of surgical specialization of doctors
· Also, a relationship was found between surgical specialization and the two cases that referred to the use of spinal anesthesia because the doctor is aware of its importance to prevent complications from general anesthesia, and because of the ability to communicate with the patient during surgery (the patient is conscious during surgery)
· We found a statistically significant relationship between the condition that indicates a lack of preference for patient vigilance during the surgical procedure and the doctor's gender, as the arithmetic mean for this case was higher for male doctors compared to females
· A strong statistically significant relationship was found between each of the two cases, which indicate a preference for general anesthesia due to the length of time to perform the lumbar puncture, which causes loss of time, and because the doctor does not prefer the patient's vigilance during the surgical operation and between the doctor's specialization in surgery
· A relationship was found between the two cases that indicate the preference for general anesthesia over spinal anesthesia due to the patient's refusal of spinal anesthesia, and in surgeries that require a longer time and the competence of the surgical doctor
Conclusion
Spinal/regional anesthesia is considered one of the important procedures currently in hospitals in order to perform many surgeries. The results of our study concluded that there is a medium rate of awareness about the use of this type of anesthesia among surgeons, whether they are specialists or residents in the specialization stage, according to the different surgical specialization. which they practice.