Comparison of shockwave lithotripsy outcomes in patients receiving sufentanil or lidocaine spinal anesthesia.

PURPOSE To determine whether the use of intrathecal sufentanil, which allows the patient to move during shockwave lithostripsy (SWL), affects treatment outcomes and operative and recovery times compared with standard lidocaine spinal anesthesia. PATIENTS AND METHODS We retrospectively studied a series of 62 SWL procedures performed on an unmodified Dornier HM3 lithotripter. The mean calculus size was 10.7 mm. There were 46 renal calculi, 13 ureteral calculi, and 4 patients with calculi in both locations. Of the 63 procedures, 25 were performed using intrathecal sufentanil alone, and 37 were performed with intrathecal lidocaine with or without additional agents. We compared treatment outcomes, as well as treatment time, fluoroscopy time, postanesthesia care unit (PACU) time, time to voiding, and time to ambulation. RESULTS Sufentanil use was associated with a significantly higher rate of successful treatment, defined as residual fragments absent or <4 mm on follow-up imaging, compared with lodocaine: 68% v. 40% (p = 0.0394). There was no significant difference between the groups in treatment time or fluoroscopy time. Use of sufentanil was associated with significantly shorter PACU time, time to ambulation, and time to voiding postoperatively. These differences persisted when men and women were analyzed separately, although the differences were less significant in women. CONCLUSIONS The use of intrathecal sufentanil for anesthesia during SWL does not adversely affect treatment outcome; it is, in fact, associated with better outcomes. The advantages of this agent in shortening recovery times and in easing patient transfer into the HM3 gantry argue for increasing its use.