[Peripheral paralysis or "bulbar threat"? (Further comment on the pathogenesis of respiratory arrest and vascular collapse during cerebrospinal anesthesia)].

The study of 9776 cases of spinal anesthesia carried out in the clinic and the results of the experiments on dogs have lead to the conclusion that respiratory arrest and drop of arterial pressure during spinal anesthesia result from the block of the peripheral conductors rather than from paralysis of bulbar centres. The artificial pulmonary ventilation constitutes the only effective means in combating respiratory depression in spinal anesthesia.