Clinical Experience with Thoracic Segmental Spinal Anesthesia in High-Risk Surgical Patients: A Case Series

Background General anesthesia (GA) can pose significant risks in patients with advanced comorbidities. Thoracic segmental spinal anesthesia (TSSA) is an underutilized alternative that offers hemodynamic stability and enhanced postoperative recovery. This case series highlights the application of TSSA in three high-risk surgical patients with complex cardiovascular, renal, or oncologic conditions. Case Presentation: We describe three patients (ASA Class III–IV) undergoing laparoscopic or endourological procedures who received TSSA instead of GA due to high anesthetic risk. Each patient received isobaric bupivacaine combined with dexmedetomidine via thoracic or thoracolumbar spinal injection. All patients remained awake, hemodynamically stable, and spontaneously breathing throughout their procedures. No sedation, vasopressor support, airway intervention, or ICU admission was required. Postoperative pain was minimal, with early ambulation and no reported complications. Conclusion Thoracic segmental spinal anesthesia is a safe and effective anesthetic technique for select high-risk patients undergoing abdominal or urological surgery. It provides excellent intraoperative conditions, avoids the systemic effects of GA, and facilitates rapid recovery. With proper technique and patient selection, TSSA offers a valuable alternative to general anesthesia in complex surgical cases.