Background and objective: Auditory impairment is among the lesser known complications of spinal analgesia. The aim of the present study was to determine the degree of vestibulocochlear dysfunction in patients undergoing spinal analgesia for lower abdominal surgery.

Methods: Eighty patients who had received spinal analgesia for lower abdominal surgery were studied. Males were undergoing inguinal herniorraphy and the females tubectomy. Audiograms were performed before operation and on the second and seventh postoperative days. Hearing levels were measured from 250 Hz-8 kHz. In Group 1 (n = 40) a 22-gauge, cutting type of spinal needle (Howard Jones) was used. In Group 2 (n = 40) a 25-gauge, non-cutting spinal needle (Whitacre) was used.

Results: Hearing loss ' 10 dB was noticed in three patients in Group 1 and none in Group 2. The mean hearing level was more reduced in Group 1 patients.

Conclusions: Use of cutting type spinal needle is associated with a greater decrease in mean hearing levels compared to the non-cutting type.

Some patients complain of altered sensation in the mouth following nasal surgery. A prospective study of 60 consecutive patients who underwent a total of 83 intranasal procedures revealed that this was a common complication, particularly following submucous resection (SMR) or intranasal antrostomies.

The area affected by painlparasthesia appears to be anatomically related to the surgical procedure(s) performed.