Evaluation of Salivary Alpha-Amylase Levels for Determining Stress Variations in Patients Undergoing Spinal Anesthesia for Infra-Umbilical Surgery

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) levels for determining stress variations in patients undergoing spinal anesthesia for infra-umbilical surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty subjects (age 18–65 years) planned for infra-umbilical surgery under spinal anesthesia were included and allocated to Groups A and B ensuring age and sex matching. In both groups, sAA levels (S1 to S4) were assessed sequentially at different times (E1 to E4). S1 and S2 were collected on the evening before surgery (E1) and in the preoperative room on the day of surgery (E2), respectively. Thereafter, in Group A, S3 and S4 were collected before (E3) and 15 min after spinal anesthesia (E4), following which intravenous Midazolam was given. In Group B, intravenous Midazolam was administered first, S3 was collected 5 min later (E3), spinal anesthesia was administered and S4 was collected after15 min (E4). RESULTS: In both groups, sAA levels showed a mild increase from E1 to E2 (not significant). Thereafter from E2 to E3 and E3 to E4, a significant sharp rise in sAA levels in Group A and a significantly acute decline in Group B was noted. Mean sAA levels in Group A were higher as compared to group B (P < 0.005) in E3 and E4. CONCLUSION: Sequential documentation of increase in sAA levels in our study, starting with the baseline levels, presents a comprehensive report of the stress that the patients experience during preoperative period and reinforces the need of anxiolytic before spinal anesthesia.