Evaluation of the olfactory memory after spinal anesthesia: a pilot study

A. Demirhan, K. Erdem, A. Akkaya, U.Y. Tekelioglu, M. Bilgi, C. Isik, M. Sit, U. Gok, H. Kocoglu

Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation; Department of Cardiovascular Surgery; Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology; Department of General Surgery; Department of Otorhinolaryngology; Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Abant Izzet Baysal University Medical School, Bolu, Turkey. boluanestezi14@gmail.com

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• Anesthesiology

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of spinal anesthesia (SA) on olfactory memory using Brief-Smell Identification TestTM (B-SIT).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: This, prospective, clinical study was performed on 40 ASA physical status I-III patients, between 18-65 years of age undergoing a planned elective minor surgery under SA. All participants were preoperatively informed about B-SIT and the mode of application of the test according to the information in the book. B-SIT was applied to each patient preoperatively and the scores were recorded. B-SIT was reapplied to all patients on the 1st and 2nd postoperative days and the scores were recorded. Moreover, development of postdural puncture headache (PDPH) and/or neurological symptoms (such as hearing loss, diplopia) were checked.

RESULTS: Postoperative headache was observed in 7 of the participants and 3 of them was diagnosed to have PDPH. No statistically significant difference was observed in the olfactory memory evaluation of the patients suffering from headache and the 3 patients diagnosed with PDPH. No statistically significant difference was observed in the correct odor answer ratio between the preoperative and postoperative 1st and 2nd days (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: We confirm that SA does not affect olfactory memory. Further studies are necessary to confirm the results of our pilot study in a larger sample.

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