Spinal phobia: survey results of patient attitudes and preferences regarding anesthesia.

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To determine unbiased patient preferences for either spinal or general anesthesia for upcoming surgeries.

DESIGN

Prior to contact with anesthesia personnel, a simple questionnaire was completed by surgical patients to determine their demographic characteristics and previous anesthetic experiences. Their concerns regarding a list of complications of general and spinal anesthesia and their preferences for general or spinal anesthesia if either method could be used were also determined.

SETTING

University-affiliated suburban community hospital.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The survey was completed by 254 patients. A preference for general over spinal anesthesia was expressed by 80.2% of the patients responding. They expressed significantly more concerns regarding nausea/vomiting, sore throat, feeling sleepy, and death with general anesthesia than with spinal anesthesia. Concerns of back pain, nerve damage and paralysis were statistically related to spinal anesthesia.

CONCLUSIONS

This survey shows a strong patient preference for general anesthesia and a phobia for spinal anesthesia.