Assessment of hearing ability with pure-tone audiometry and otoacoustic emission methods in patients undergoing spinal anesthesia

To investigate the frequency of hearing loss after spinal anesthesia in patients undergoing spinal anesthesia using pure-tone audiometry and otoacoustic emission methods. Materials and methods: A total of 80 patients (40 females, 40 males, aged 18-65 years) were included in the study. For spinal anesthesia, a 27-gauge Quincke spinal needle was entered at the first attempt into the subarachnoidal space through the L4-L5 interval with the patient in the lateral decubitus position. The first day before spinal anesthesia, pure-tone audiometry, transient evoked otoacoustic emission, distortion product otoacoustic emission, and tympanometry were performed on all patients, and the same procedures were repeated on the postoperative second day. Results: No problem was encountered related to surgery and anesthesia in any of the patients. Comparative pre- and postoperative results of pure-tone audiometry performed on the right and left ears were not significantly different in any of the patients (P > 0.05). Additionally, the outcomes of pre- and postoperatively performed transient evoked otoacoustic emission and of distortion product otoacoustic emission of both ears were not significantly different (P > 0.05). Conclusion: According to our study, spinal anesthesia performed with a 27-gauge Quincke needle does not cause transient or permanent hearing loss.