Background: To compare the haemodynamic and peripheral arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) variability among three groups, i.e. no preload, 3.5% polygeline preload and Ringer’s lactate preload, after preloading and following spinal anaesthesia, in elective lower abdominal or lower limb surgery involving minimal blood loss in an adult non-parturient population. Material and Methods: In a double-blind clinical trial, 75 ASA-I and ASA-II non-parturient adult patients undergoing elective lower abdominal or lower limb surgery were randomly allocated to three groups of 25 patients each, to receive either no preload, 3.5% polygeline solution (10 mLkg-1 ), or Ringer’s lactate solution (20 mLkg-1 ), as a preload before spinal anaesthesia. Serial measurements of the haemodynamic parameters (such as the heart rate, systolic arterial pressure and mean arterial pressure) and the peripheral arterial oxygen saturation were compared on inter-group and intra-group basis, after preloading and following spinal anaesthesia.