The Impact of Spinal Anesthesia and Use of Oxytocin on Fluid Absorption in Patients Undergoing Operative Hysteroscopy: Results from a Prospective Controlled Study

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine if combining intravenous oxytocin infusion and spinal anesthesia will reduce the amount of glycine absorption in patients undergoing operative hysteroscopy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective controlled study was conducted in premenopausal patients who had hysteroscopic surgery including endometrial resection, endometrial polypectomy, myomectomy resection and uterine septal resection. The effect of combined spinal anesthetic with oxytocin infusion on fluid deficit was studied. RESULTS: A total of 88 patients were studied. Sixty-two cases were done under general anesthesia (control group) and 26 cases were performed with spinal anesthesia and the use of oxytocin infusion (study group). There was a statistically significant less mean fluid deficit in the study group than control group in the endometrial polypectomy patients (220±36 mL vs 392±178 mL, respectively, P value 0.010, 95% C.I.: 163–276) and the myomectomy patients (308±66 mL vs 564±371 mL, respectively, P value 0.003, 95% C.I.: 239–378). In the endometrial resections, there was also a statistically significant less mean fluid deficit in the study than the control group (P value ˂ 0.001). Regarding septal resection, there was no statistically significant difference in the mean fluid deficit between the two groups (P value 0.833). CONCLUSION: Spinal anesthesia combined with intravenous oxytocin infusion in operative hysteroscopy results in a statistically significant reduction in the glycine fluid deficit than the general anesthesia. We also recommend studying the effects of this combination in operative hysteroscopy using bipolar devices with isotonic solutions.