The Effects of Spinal Anesthesia on Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of spinal anesthesia on erythrocyte sedimantation rate (ESR). After approval by the local ethics committee and written informed patient consent, patients between the ages between the ages of 18-65 and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification, Class I-II scheduled for ilioinguinal and anorectal surgery under spinal anesthesia were included in the study. Six patients in whom adequate anesthesia level could not be obtained were excluded from the study. Investigation was completed with the remaining 54 patients (12 female, 42 male). Blood samples were obtained just before spinal anesthesia and after the onset time of sensory blockade for surgery. ESR was measured within two hours with automated Sed Rate Greener device parallel to Westergreen method. Mean ESR values were found to be 7.54±6.35 in the first blood samples and 7.37±6.25 in the second blood samples. There was no statistically significant difference between the two ESR values. In conclusion, we suggest that spinal anesthesia does not lead to a significant alteration in ESR, which may be accounted for the low amount of local anesthetics used in this technique and the low peak plasma concentrations of those were reached in the blood.