The Assessment of Marcaine Versus Meperidine for Spinal Anesthesia in Anorectal Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Spinal anesthesia (SA) for the surgical management of chronic anal fissures is favored by surgeons as it provides an early return to daily activities; however, the agents applied for SA to achieve the best outcomes with minimized adverse effects are a matter of debate.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the utility of Marcaine versus meperidine for SA induction of anoderm surgery.

METHODS: This randomized clinical trial (RCT) was conducted on 138 patients with chronic anal fissures who were candidates for surgical management in 2020. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups of SA using 2.5 mL of hyperbaric Marcaine 0.5% (n = 69) or 1 mg/kg of meperidine (n = 69). Pain severity (measured via Numerical Rating Scale (NRS)), anal sphincter tone manometry (measured at baseline and the end of the sphincterotomy), and drug-related adverse effects were compared between the groups.

RESULTS: Both agents led to significant pain relief within 24 hours after SA (P < 0.05); nevertheless, pain severity was remarkably lower in meperidine-treated patients in different measurements performed during the first 24 hours after SA (P < 0.05). The sphincteric tone significantly decreased in both groups (P < 0.001), while the postoperative tone was significantly less in the Marcaine-treated patients (65.22 ± 3.02 versus 46.04 ± 1.97, P < 0.001). The two groups did not differ regarding the adverse effects (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Meperidine for SA in anal fissure surgical management was relatively superior to Marcaine, as postoperative pain control was remarkably better achieved with meperidine. However, anal sphincter tone reached a normal range in Marcaine-treated cases, and the average tone in those anesthetized with meperidine was slightly above the normal limits.