Side effect of spinal anesthesia. Spinal (spinal) anesthesia, indications and contraindications

The most commonly used technique of regional anesthesia in modern anesthesia practice is spinal anesthesia. This technique combines a stable analgesic effect, a low percentage of complications, the ability to eliminate postoperative pain, and all this along with technical simplicity.

With spinal anesthesia, the pain-conducting nerves in certain areas are turned off for a while. To do this, pain medication is injected at a specific location in the spine near these nerves. Drugs, local anesthetics, will be injected into the subarachnoid (spinal) space.

The spinal space is located in the spinal canal and is protected from all sides by the spine. It starts from the large occipital foramen in the skull and ends at the level of the second sacral vertebra (S2).

Inside the space there are clinically important structures of the nervous system - this is the spinal cord and its continuation in the form of a ponytail, as well as cerebrospinal fluid or, in other words, cerebrospinal fluid.

A spinal anesthetic injection is made at the level of the second lumbar vertebra (L2) or lower (L3-L4), and the spinal cord in an adult ends at the level of the first lumbar vertebra (L1), so the risk of spinal cord injury is reduced to zero.

What is the difference between spinal anesthesia and epidural anesthesia?

anatomical location. The spinal space is located deeper in the spine. It contains the spinal cord and cerebrospinal fluid, and the epidural space contains adipose and connective tissue.

Spinal anesthesia is performed only below the 1st lumbar vertebra (L1), so as not to damage the spinal cord, while epidural anesthesia can be performed not only in the lumbar, but also in the thoracic region. This is due to the anatomical features of the location of the epidural space. It is closer to the spine and does not have a spinal cord.

The technique of execution and sterile styling for manipulation are different. The epidural set has a thick needle and a long catheter, which is subsequently attached to the chest, while spinal anesthesia uses thin needles, without catheters.

Another difference from epidural anesthesia is the possibility of more complex surgical interventions. During spinal anesthesia, all types of sensitivity (pain, temperature, motor, etc.) are "turned off", while, as during epidural anesthesia, only pain sensitivity is preferred.

The time of onset of the effect with spinal anesthesia is 5-15 minutes, and with epidural anesthesia 10-30 minutes.

What is the difference between spinal anesthesia and general anesthesia (narcosis)?

With general anesthesia, the patient is immersed in drug-induced sleep with a reversible loss of various types of sensitivity, while with spinal anesthesia, a reversible loss of sensitivity occurs only at the level of the spinal roots and the patient is fully conscious.

Spinal anesthesia is intended for surgical interventions on the lower extremities, pelvic organs and lower abdominal cavity. General anesthesia has more advanced indications for surgical interventions.

If the patient is given a choice, then spinal anesthesia, as safer, should be preferred rather than general anesthesia.

Indications for spinal anesthesia:

Operations on the lower extremities. They include amputations of varying complexity, phlebectomy (removal of veins), plastic surgery, opening of phlegmon (diffuse purulent inflammation of tissues), arterial prosthetics, knee surgery, external fixation with a CST device (combined trauma kit).

Operations on the pelvic organs. These are urological operations in the form of transurethral resection of the prostate gland (TURP), varicocele (varicose veins of the spermatic cord and testis) with open access, hydrocele (dropsy of the testicular membranes), plasty of the external genital organs, hemorrhoidectomy.

Operations on the lower floor of the abdominal cavity. They include hernia repair, open appendectomy, caesarean section.

Before the upcoming surgery, the anesthesiologist-resuscitator talks to the patient. He collects an anamnesis, fills out medical documentation, takes a written voluntary consent from the patient, and also talks about contraindications and possible complications of anesthesia.

Contraindications for spinal anesthesia:

Absolute:

Patient's refusal to undergo anesthesia.
Allergy to local anesthetics.
Infection at the proposed puncture site.
Infectious diseases in the acute stage.
intracranial hypertension.

Relative:

Decreased volume of circulating blood (hypovolemia).
Altered parameters of the blood coagulation system (coagulopathy).
Chronic back pain.

Preoperative patient preparation

On the eve of the operation, the last meal and liquid should be no later than 2 hours before the upcoming sleep.

In the morning before the operation, the patient does not eat or drink anything. Removes all jewelry (rings, earrings, chains, glasses, watches, etc.), removable dentures and waits in the ward until the medical staff arrives for him.

An obligatory final stage for the upcoming anesthesia and surgery is premedication - the appointment of sedatives in order to stabilize the patient's psycho-emotional background, relieve stress, tremor and fear. Drugs, at the discretion of the anesthesiologist-resuscitator, can be prescribed both on the eve of the operation, at bedtime, and in the morning 1 hour before the operation. The drugs of choice are tranquilizers (anxiolytics).

After preparation for the operation, compliance with all requirements, morning premedication, the patient, lying on a gurney, accompanied by medical personnel, is taken to the operating unit.

In the operating room, the patient is transferred from the gurney to the operating table. There, an anesthetic team consisting of a doctor and a nurse anesthetist awaits him.

Mandatory, the first manipulation, with which it all begins, is obtaining vascular (venous) access. This manipulation consists in the percutaneous insertion of a sterile vascular catheter into a vein. Next, this catheter is fixed and a system for intravenous infusion with saline sodium chloride is connected to it. Manipulation is necessary in order to have constant access for the administration of drugs intravenously. In order to avoid a possible decrease in blood pressure during anesthesia, the volume of the infusion load should be at least 1000 ml. After that, a blood pressure cuff is connected to the patient and electrode sensors are attached to the chest for continuous recording of the electrocardiogram (ECG). All parameters are displayed to the doctor on the monitor.

After infusion therapy, at the command of the anesthesiologist-resuscitator, with the help of medical personnel, the patient is given a position in which anesthesia will be performed - sitting or on his side.

Classically, spinal anesthesia is performed from the side position, but sometimes it is more convenient to sit the patient down, this is due to obesity.

If the patient has taken a position on his side, then he presses his bent knees to his chest as much as possible, wraps his arms around them, brings his head to his chest and arches his back.

In the sitting position, the patient relaxes and lowers his shoulders, bends his head and presses it to his chest, rests his hands on his knees and arches his back.

The doctor will definitely help you at all stages and tell you what and how to do.

After giving the desired position, the patient must follow the simple instructions of the anesthesiologist-resuscitator: do not move, do not spin, immediately talk about all the complaints that appear.

How spinal anesthesia is done

To perform spinal anesthesia, the anesthesiologist-resuscitator uses a special sterile kit.

After preparing the surgical field, the skin will be anesthetized, while the patient feels a prick, and immediately after that, a cold and a slight feeling of fullness, which appears due to the spread of the anesthetic in the tissues. This may remind you of a dental procedure, where only the injection itself is painful, and after that you do not experience pain.

Following local anesthesia of the skin, a spinal needle is inserted into the same site. The needle passes through the skin, subcutaneous tissue, ligaments of the vertebrae, yellow ligament, passes through the epidural space and penetrates through the dura mater into the spinal space.

The anesthesiologist-resuscitator disconnects the mandrin (the needle that was in the needle cavity) from the spinal needle, after which CSF begins to drip through its lumen.

The doctor connects a syringe to the lumen of the needle and slowly begins to inject the medicine. The drugs used in anesthesia are local anesthetics. Solutions of lidocaine 2%, bupivacaine (marcaine) 0.5-0.75%, dicaine 0.5% can be used

During the administration of the drug, the patient will begin to feel warmth spreading through the legs, a slight feeling of numbness and tingling. After the drug is completely injected, the anesthesiologist-resuscitator removes the needle and seals the puncture site with a sterile napkin. Upon completion, the patient is gently placed on the operating table.

How to assess the adequacy of anesthesia?

To assess pain relief and the development of an anesthetic block, an anesthesiologist-resuscitator uses pin-prink techniques and a cold test.

The first technique is to assess your pain and tactile sensitivity. It is applied with a thin needle. The doctor pricks the patient with the sharp and blunt end of the needle, and the patient answers where he feels pain, where they are weak, and where they are absent.

The second method is performed using a gauze ball moistened with alcohol. When touching the skin, the patient will feel cold. When held at the site of the onset of the block, there will be no cold sensations.

The rate of development of the anesthetic block is individual for each person and takes an average of 5-15 minutes.

The patient will gradually feel a decrease in sensitivity in the lower part of the body. The legs will become heavy, and then independent movements will completely disappear.

During the operation, the patient will be conscious, hear how the operation is going on, and feel some pressure. You will not experience pain.

The anesthesiologist-resuscitator, if necessary, can prescribe light sedatives for superficial sleep and a more comfortable pastime.

After the operation, the patient is transferred to a gurney and taken back to the ward. Sensitivity will gradually recover and by the end of the day will fully return.

Please note that in the postoperative period, it is necessary to follow the recommendations of the anesthesiologist-resuscitator:

During the day, strictly observe bed rest! It is forbidden to get up and walk around the room.

During the postoperative day, you must drink at least 2000-2500 ml of liquid. It can be water, juice, fruit drink, tea, coffee, compote.

If you need to visit the restroom, contact the medical staff, they will definitely help you.

Possible complications of spinal anesthesia:

Decreased blood pressure (hypotension). To avoid this complication, it is necessary to carry out mandatory infusion therapy, before the start of anesthesia, in a volume of 1000 ml. physiological solution.
Total spinal anesthesia (CMA).
Decreased heart rate (HR).
Nausea.
Back pain.
Epidural or spinal hematoma.

If necessary, spinal anesthesia can be replaced by general anesthesia. The reason for the transition to general anesthesia is the failure of the distribution of local anesthetic in the spinal space, because of which the desired anesthetic block does not occur and the patient feels that the anesthesia has not worked. In this case, the anesthesiologist-resuscitator proceeds to perform general anesthesia according to the standard method.

Side effects of spinal anesthesia:

Post-puncture headache remains one of the most common side effects of regional anesthesia. The frequency of side effects is reduced when the anesthesiologist-resuscitator uses thin spinal needles for anesthesia. But this does not change the recommendations!

Spinal anesthesia remains the most common type of regional anesthesia. Regardless of the type of operation, it requires well-coordinated work of the anesthesia team and strict adherence to all recommendations by the patient. Only after a conscientious approach to the performance of their duties, anesthesia will be of high quality and comfortable for the patient.

Anesthesiologist-resuscitator Starostin D.O.

What are the consequences and complications that it can cause? Only an experienced doctor can answer these questions. Almost any operation is impossible without anesthesia, which, in turn, can give some side effects. What are the possible consequences of spinal anesthesia, let's consider in more detail.

What is spinal anesthesia?

One of the modern and effective types of anesthesia is spinal anesthesia. As a rule, compared with conventional anesthesia, this method is considered much safer.

In addition, spinal anesthesia can be used not only for young people, but also for older people, for women in position.

It is worth noting that some consequences and complications may occur in the patient immediately upon completion or some time after the operation.

As a rule, spinal anesthesia is used in the lower extremities and pelvic organs; the use of this method of anesthesia for other parts of the body will be ineffective.

It is worth considering that any anesthesia has consequences, and, despite better characteristics than conventional anesthesia, even spinal anesthesia can have a negative impact on the human body.

It is as follows:

What are the consequences of spinal anesthesia?

It is necessary to consider each of the symptoms in more detail:

In this case, the following diagnostic methods are carried out:

Possible complications after spinal anesthesia

One of the most common is urinary retention in the body. In women, as a rule, this condition is less common. After spinal anesthesia and surgery, the body can still recover within a day, including the normalization of the functions of the bladder. That is why fluid retention is manifested.

Inflammation of the skin at the site of spinal anesthesia is rare and is associated primarily with the negligence of medical personnel using drugs that are not suitable for the patient. In addition, cases of infection entering the injection site during spinal anesthesia are known. Most often, this indicates the insufficient qualifications of the doctor conducting the procedure.

In conclusion, it should be said that there may be back pain, which should pass in a few days. If, after a certain time, all of the above complications occur, it is imperative to visit the attending physician and find out the cause of the ailment. Usually spinal anesthesia does not have negative consequences, but even with it one should not joke.

Caudal, epidural and spinal anesthesia refer to the so-called neuraxial or central blockade, which acts on the spinal cord and its roots using local anesthesia. The most common technique is spinal anesthesia, which is used, in the case of surgery for hernia repair, urological and gynecological operations. In this article, we will consider what spinal anesthesia is, the technique for performing surgical manipulation, and also determine the contraindications and consequences of spinal anesthesia.

The spinal cord, located in the spinal canal, is one of the most important segmental elements of the central nervous system. Inside the organ, ending at the level of the L2 vertebra, there is a cavitary cerebrospinal fluid, into which special pharmacological drugs for spinal anesthesia are injected. A local anesthetic such as Naropin injected into the spinal cord, mixing with the fluid content, causes blockage of the nerve roots within the spinal space. In other words, spinal anesthesia begins to act. A local anesthetic (Naropin) begins to successively cut off the fibers or nerve pathway that branches off from the center of the spinal cord:

  1. Initially, spinal anesthesia acts on the preganglionic symptomatic fibers, which are located between the thoracic and lumbar spine. Purpose: to expand the blood vessels. Side effects: a drop in blood pressure and a temperature increase in the dermis.
  2. The next target of the anesthetic is the fibers of temperature sensitivity. There is a cooling and then a thermal effect.
  3. The third stage of the action of anesthesia is the fibers of epicritical pain. Naropin provokes protopathic pain syndrome.
  4. The final stage of the action of anesthesia is the blocking of the innervation of the internal anatomical organs, which reduces their superficial, deep, vibrational and proprioceptive sensitivity.

So, the action looks like, and the technique of conducting an anesthetic drug into the spinal canal of the spinal column.

Frequently asked questions before and after surgery:

  1. Is it painful to do a spinal puncture (anesthesia) - modern pharmacological drugs make it possible to completely block the sensitivity of the systemic organs of vital activity.
  2. How much regional anesthesia costs - it all depends on the degree of complexity of the clinical pathology, the location of the surgical intervention and the qualifications of the specialist.
  3. Can the back hurt after surgery - the back must hurt for 2-3 days, as the nerve endings return their reflex sensitivity.
  4. What is better "spinal" or general anesthesia - the choice between spinal topographic anesthesia and general anesthesia is determined by a number of medical indications.

What to do if your head hurts after spinal anesthesia - you will find the answer to this question after reading this article.

Contraindications and preoperative preparation

Local spinal anesthesia is performed below the thoracic diaphragm, and only if there are objective reasons that exclude general anesthesia.

Attention! Before starting a surgical procedure, the attending physician is obliged to explain to the patient about the expediency of surgical intervention, explain which anesthesia is better, and what possible complications and consequences a person should be prepared for after the operation.

Relative contraindications for surgical intervention include:

  • heart failure and ischemia of the heart;
  • hypersensitivity of the nervous system;
  • headache;
  • septic conditions;
  • hypovolemia;
  • cachexia.

Absolute contraindications for spinal anesthesia:

  • mental illness;
  • inflammatory pathology in the area of ​​the lumbosacral spine;
    uncorrected hypovolemia;
  • purulent diseases of the skin in the lumbar zone;
  • severe form of anemia;
  • pronounced kyphosis, scoliosis and other abnormal conditions of the spine;
    intracranial hypertension;
  • allergic reaction to local anesthetics.

It is important to know that the most powerful argument for contraindications to spinal anesthesia is the patient's reluctance to undergo this method of anesthesia.

Before starting the operation, psychogenic preparation of the patient is necessary. Half an hour before surgery, in order to stop back pain, narcotic, antihistamine and sedative pharmacological agents are administered intramuscularly to a person. Typically, a subcutaneous injection in the back is a 20% caffeine solution and a 0.05% dihydroergotamine solution, which increases venous return in the blood vessels.

Surgical technique

The lumbar puncture is performed on the patient in a sitting position or lying on his side, so that the knees are pressed to the chest as much as possible. Before the spinal needle is inserted, the skin of the back is treated twice with an antiseptic or alcohol. It is not recommended to use a solution of iodine, as it can get into the subarachnoid space and cause aseptic arachnoiditis. After anesthetizing the puncture site, with a reactionary lack of sensitivity, 0.25–0.5% novocaine solution is injected. Spinal needles for lumbar puncture are selected individually. After piercing the yellow spinal ligament, the mandrin is removed, and further advancement of the needle is brought to piercing the dura mater, in order to penetrate into the spinal canal. The outflow of cerebrospinal fluid from the pavilion of the needle is a sign of an exact hit in the subarachnoid space. At the discretion of the surgeon, the anesthetic (Naropin) can also be delivered via the paramedian route. However, there is a risk of the needle getting into the abdominal area at the slightest deviation from the trajectory of movement.

Postoperative period

After surgery with the use of spinal puncture, various deteriorations in the general condition of the patient are possible. First of all, it is a headache after spinal anesthesia. This condition is considered normal, since the local anesthetic (Naropin) has a residual effect. The patient should not panic that the head hurts after anesthesia. Within 4-5 hours after the operation, subject to the normalization of blood pressure, and at rest, the headache will disappear. The patient's next complaint is that his back hurts after spinal anesthesia. The reason for this state is as follows. All nerve fibers under the action of local anesthesia were blocked. However, after spinal anesthesia, they restore their former sensitivity, which is the cause of back pain. As a rule, painkillers are administered to the patient in this condition. Other complications of spinal anesthesia include:

  • Spinal hematoma.
  • Decrease or increase in arterial and intracranial pressure.
  • Nausea and gag reflex.
  • Decreased heart rate (arrhythmia).

Any feelings of discomfort and pain should be reported to the attending medical staff.

Spinal anesthesia (SA) in obstetric practice

Currently, the SA method is very often used in obstetrics. Local anesthesia for childbirth has several advantages over general anesthesia for caesarean section. Spinal anesthesia for caesarean section is devoid of such unpleasant complications as aspiration of gastric contents, intubation difficulties in the trachea, etc. An important indicator is that with spinal anesthesia for caesarean section, the risk factor for a lethal outcome is significantly reduced than with regional and / or general anesthesia. In addition, after caesarean section under SA, newborns (according to the Apgar score) are less susceptible to respiratory depression.

Expectant mothers may have a question, is anesthesia in the spine dangerous during surgery? Consequences, complications and further postoperative treatment completely depend on the individual physiological characteristics of the woman in labor and the qualifications of the attending medical staff. What pitfalls can be expected in the postoperative period? First of all, you should not be afraid for the health of the child. Any qualified specialist will carry out surgical intervention as efficiently as possible without endangering the health of the baby. As for the female body, medical workers are ready to "meet" with the following problems:

  • Minimize the risk of infection by following strict asepsis rules.
  • Severe headaches that occur after spinal anesthesia are the result of a decrease in the tone of smooth muscles in the walls of blood vessels, leading to a deterioration in blood supply. In this case, a therapeutic treatment is provided that increases or lowers blood pressure. How long a post-puncture headache will last depends on the physiology and concomitant clinical conditions of the patient.
  • Since the autonomic nerve fibers of the lumbosacral zone are restored last, patients complain of urinary retention. However, with a full and painfully distended bladder, appropriate treatment is required - catheterization.

Of particular danger is the so-called total spinal block, the treatment of which requires maximum attention and concentration of specialists. Pathology occurs as a result of improper interatecal administration of an anesthetic. The patient experiences loss of sensation or weakness in the arms and legs, difficulty breathing, and even possible loss of consciousness. It is worth delaying at least a little and not starting resuscitation measures in time, a fatal outcome awaits a person. Algorithm for emergency medical actions in case of total spinal block.

The most common complication of spinal anesthesia, including during caesarean section, is severe headache. It occurs due to the leakage of cerebrospinal fluid through a defect in the membrane of the spinal cord, and, as a result, a drop in intracranial pressure.

By maintaining a horizontal position, the patient minimizes the loss of spinal fluid through the puncture site, thereby significantly reducing the likelihood of headaches.

Also, in some cases, adherence to bed rest is the prevention of complications in patients with arterial pressure disorders, for example, orthostatic collapse. This condition is characterized by a sharp decrease in blood flow to the brain during the transition to a vertical position.

What is spinal anesthesia, what is dangerous, pros and cons

Local spinal anesthesia is a method of pain relief in which a blocking agent is injected directly into the CSF. The procedure is indicated during surgical operations, as well as some types of spinal diagnostics.

What is spinal anesthesia used for?

Spinal anesthesia has certain advantages over general anesthesia. These include:

The consequences of spinal anesthesia are quite rare, not more than 1% of cases. Basically, all side effects and undesirable manifestations are associated with individual intolerance to the procedure, as well as insufficient qualifications of the staff.

During surgical interventions

Absolute indications for spinal anesthesia are operations, including strip operations, performed on the lower abdomen, as well as the spine. It is recommended to use the method for all patients with a high probability of developing complications from general anesthesia.

For caesarean section

Medical standards for spinal anesthesia prescribe the use of the method as the gold standard for caesarean section. In world practice, the widespread introduction of spinal anesthesia has reduced the number of deaths by approximately 7 times, from 8.6 to 1.9 for every 1 million cases of operations.

Why is spinal anesthesia dangerous?

Any medical procedure has certain risks for the patient. Spinal anesthesia is no exception. The anesthesiologist, before making a decision on the advisability of using anesthesia, will try to determine the presence of direct contraindications, as well as discuss possible complications with the patient.

Contraindications to anesthesia

For anesthesia, anesthetics are used that have a sedative effect on the nerve endings of a certain part of the spine. In this case, a clear contraindication is the appointment of drugs to patients with a clear intolerance to one of the components of the drug.

  • Severe systemic diseases. Side effects of spinal anesthesia are associated with a violation of the integrity of the skin and lumbar cavity.

A patient who has severe disorders affecting blood clotting, as well as inflammatory processes, is prohibited from spinal anesthesia.

During surgery, the anesthesiologist may conclude that local anesthesia is not enough and perform intravenous general anesthesia.

Possible Complications

Complications of spinal anesthesia are rare, but still occur in medical practice. The consequences are associated with the reaction of the body to the painkiller, as well as errors during the procedure.

  • Hypotension - a decrease in blood pressure has a temporary effect and disappears as the drug is removed from the human body. Modern methods of anesthesia have reduced the likelihood of hypotension. Additionally, atropine and ephedrine are introduced.

Complications are possible when using anesthesia in the spinal cord if the rules for the procedure are violated by medical personnel, as well as by the patient himself.

How is spinal anesthesia done?

In spinal anesthesia, an anesthetic is injected into the subarachnoid space. The spinal cord is not affected. The procedure is in many ways similar to taking a puncture, but a thinner needle is used. Unpleasant sensations are inferior in intensity to those that the patient feels during CSF sampling.

Anesthesia drugs

In medical practice, two types of anesthetics are mainly used: Bupivacaine and Ledocaine. From Ethiocaine, Tetracaine and Mepivacaine, it was decided to refuse, due to the high cardiological burden on the patient.

How many times can anesthesia be given

As a general rule, it is considered that re-anaesthesia is carried out only after the puncture has healed, but there are certain exceptions. So, if after anesthesia the patient does not feel sufficient numbness, additional anesthesia is performed.

Does anesthesia hurt?

The procedure takes about a minute. During anesthesia, the patient feels discomfort. To reduce the fear of the procedure, it is recommended to conduct a psychological preparation of a person.

How is spinal anesthesia performed?

Narcosis is carried out as follows:

  • The patient is placed or seated on a couch.

How is recovery after spinal anesthesia

The action of spinal anesthesia lasts from 1.5-4 hours. The duration of exposure depends on the selected drug and the volume of the administered agent. Gradually, the restoration of sensitivity begins. Further recommendations for recovery are mainly related to possible complications from the use of anesthesia:

  • The first attempt to stand up should be under the supervision of a medical professional, due to possible dizziness.

Most of the negative effects disappear within the first day, after which the patient can be discharged home. No special rehabilitation measures are required.

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Consequences of spinal anesthesia

Any surgical intervention requires the use of some type of anesthesia. There are some types of operations for which patient control is important. Spinal anesthesia has consequences and requires a highly skilled anesthetist, but keeps the patient conscious throughout the process.

Technique

Spinal anesthesia allows you to desensitize only the lower part of the body, starting from the waist and ending with the toes. In this case, the patient will remain conscious and will be able to report his condition. An anesthetic with this method is injected into the back, near the spinal cord.

How spinal anesthesia is done:

  1. the patient is in a sitting position, with his back to the doctor, or lying on his side. At the same time, he bends his back and presses his chin to his chest, trying to immobilize the body as much as possible;
  2. the anesthesiologist determines the injection site with his fingers;
  3. the place is treated with a special agent so that it is sterile;
  4. Initially, local anesthesia is administered. If it is necessary;
  5. a thin needle is injected very slowly, the drug is injected. Then the needle is carefully removed and the wound is sealed with a sterile bandage.

The patient may immediately feel side effects such as tingling in the legs, fever throughout the body. Complete anesthesia occurs 10 minutes after the administration of the drug.

Why can't you get up after spinal anesthesia? This type of anesthesia completely immobilizes the lower body. Attempting to stand up could result in a fall and injury.

Indications for use

Spinal anesthesia is given when needed. To keep the patient conscious. It is used during operations involving the perineum, legs and genitals of a person.

Benefits of spinal anesthesia:

  1. reduces the sensitivity of the lower body;
  2. allowed for lung diseases;
  3. reduces the muscle tone of the small intestine. That allows you to make operations more accurately;
  4. approved for heart failure.

This method of anesthesia is used in the case of:

  • during natural childbirth, it allows you to anesthetize contractions and the delivery process. Stimulates labor activity before it begins;
  • during operations on the legs, intestines, which do not require the removal of organs;
  • caesarean section. Allows no harm to the baby. The only contraindication is low blood clotting and heart rhythm disturbances in a pregnant woman. It also reduces blood loss during surgery;

To assess whether the drug has worked, the doctor, using a thin needle, pierces the patient's limb, specifying whether he feels pain. A wet cotton ball is also used to evaluate sensations if the patient does not feel cold. This means that the anesthesia was successful.

The body after anesthesia recovers from 2 to 4 hours, the time depends on the drug used.

Contraindications

Spinal anesthesia is increasingly being used to conduct various surgeries. It allows you to keep the patient's consciousness and make complex manipulations. In childbirth, epidural anesthesia will relieve excruciating pains, help to carry out a caesarean section.

Spinal anesthesia is used for many operations, but it has a number of contraindications:

  1. skin infections;
  2. allergy to drugs;
  3. diseases of the central nervous system;
  4. risk of complications and lack of resuscitation;
  5. refusal of the patient from spinal anesthesia.

In addition to contraindications related to the health of the patient, it is prohibited before the spinal anesthesia procedure:

  • smoke;
  • drink 6-8 hours before surgery;
  • apply cosmetics;
  • wear metal jewelry;
  • It is recommended to remove lenses, dentures.

Complications after spinal anesthesia can be caused by failure to follow these rules. Doctors advise telling the anesthesiologist about all chronic diseases, allergic reactions, internal fears and worries.

Women note that spinal anesthesia makes it easier to transfer labor and accelerates the opening of the cervix. After any anesthesia, the patient needs time to recover. Experts do not advise getting up after spinal anesthesia for 3-4 hours.

Complications

It is impossible to predict the reaction of the body to the administered drug. Consequences after spinal anesthesia can be both mild and severe.

Mild side effects that occur in the first minutes after anesthesia include:

  1. headache appears due to a decrease in blood pressure and may persist for 24 hours;
  2. urinary retention and edema. Despite the fact that the consequences for men are almost minimal, urinary retention occurs more often in them than in women. It occurs due to a stop in the functions of the bladder;
  3. lowering blood pressure. This is due to dehydration of the body, and can also be a consequence of heart failure.

These consequences for women and men do not require treatment and medical intervention. Within a day after the operation, all side effects will pass.

The consequences of spinal anesthesia after surgery in some cases are severe. They will require complex and lengthy treatment.

What are the consequences after spinal anesthesia:

  • an allergic reaction to the drug can cause pulmonary edema and lead to suffocation;
  • traumatic damage to the roots leads to complete or partial paralysis of the limbs. The cause is improperly delivered anesthesia;
  • meningitis - inflammation of the meninges caused by bacteria and viruses;
  • spinal hematoma - accumulation of blood, leading to compression of the spinal cord;
  • persistent headache accompanied by vomiting and dizziness.
  • blood infection. This happens in case. If the needle insertion site has not been properly disinfected.

Treatment of complications after spinal anesthesia will require a lot of time and effort. With the correct implementation of the pain procedure, unpleasant side effects will not appear.

anesthesia during childbirth

Epidural anesthesia is performed only with the personal consent of the patient. Doctors recommend this type of pain relief for medical reasons, but in some clinics it can be delivered at will.

Spinal anesthesia during childbirth eases contractions and stimulates the cervix to dilate. During labor, it is recommended in case of:

  • if childbirth is carried out for a short time, spinal anesthesia will help relax the pelvic muscles;
  • high blood pressure in a pregnant woman;
  • weak labor activity or its absence;
  • fetal hypoxia;
  • very painful contractions;
  • caesarean section for multiple pregnancies, breech presentation of the fetus, umbilical cord entanglement, or a large baby weight.

Long-term effects of spinal anesthesia after childbirth are often associated with back pain. If the pain does not go away for a long time, it is recommended to consult a doctor for medical help.

Also, after spinal anesthesia is not allowed to lift weights. If it was used during childbirth, the rehabilitation period for a woman is 24 hours. Proper nutrition and good rest after surgery help the body to restore strength.

What you need to know about spinal anesthesia

Translation from English: anesthesiologist Tarasyuk Andrey Vyacheslavovich

Introduction

Painful examinations and operations in our time are carried out under anesthesia (“pain off”). All existing methods of anesthesia are designed to alleviate this terrible ordeal for the patient associated with surgical intervention in the body. Modern methods of anesthesia (including local anesthesia) are quite complex, and therefore are performed by anesthesiologists who have undergone special education and training.

The anesthesiologist is responsible for anesthesia and maintenance of vital functions (primarily breathing and circulation) during the operation. Figuratively speaking, the anesthesiologist is your "guardian angel" during the operation.

For pain relief during surgery (painful manipulations), various methods of anesthesia (pain relief) are used:

  • Anesthesia (general anesthesia) turns off consciousness and pain sensitivity throughout the body. During anesthesia from the beginning to the end you are in a calm sleep-like state.
  • Regional anesthesia. Local anesthesia eliminates pain in certain areas (regions) of the body and directly in the area of ​​operation. Consciousness is usually preserved.

For some surgeries, spinal anesthesia may be used instead of general anesthesia.

With spinal anesthesia, the pain-conducting nerves in certain areas are turned off for a while. To do this, pain medication is injected at a specific location in the spine near these nerves. In this case, the injection, as a rule, does not give unpleasant sensations, since the puncture site is anesthetized before that.

How is spinal anesthesia performed?

  1. You can discuss in more detail how spinal anesthesia is performed (if you wish) with the anesthesiologist before the operation, you can also see photos of the spinal anesthesia technique.
  2. To perform this procedure, use one of the positions of the patient - sitting or lying on his side.
  3. The choice of the position necessary for performing spinal anesthesia is made by the anesthesiologist. The anesthesiologist and his assistant will explain to you how to assume the required body position.
  4. For quick and safe performance of this type of anesthesia, we ask you not to move or change your body position during the doctor's manipulations.
  5. After treating the injection site with a special disinfectant solution (which feels like a touch of something cold), the doctor makes an anesthetic injection of the puncture site.
  6. Then the manipulation itself is performed.

What will I feel?

  1. Usually, spinal anesthesia is not accompanied by discomfort and takes 10-15 minutes.
  2. After spinal anesthesia is performed and anesthetic medicine is administered, you may feel a slight tingling in the legs (soles of the feet, lower legs), a feeling of "spill" warmth. This is fine. And you should not be afraid of these sensations. Then there may be (but not necessarily) a feeling that your legs have become heavy and "naughty". Following these sensations, the sensation of pain disappears when touched by sharp objects in the area where the operation is planned to be performed.
  3. In some cases, when performing spinal anesthesia, you may feel some painful tingling, which some patients describe as "a little jolt of current." If this happens, tell the anesthesiologist about it without changing the position of the body and without turning the head.

Why Spinal Anesthesia?

When may general anesthesia be needed?

However, in some cases, despite the performed spinal anesthesia, general anesthesia (anesthesia) may be required:

  • If your anesthesiologist believes that the level of pain relief received is not sufficient to perform the operation
  • Spinal anesthesia "does not work"
  • The operation turned out to be more difficult than expected.

At the end of spinal anesthesia

Full recovery of sensitivity in your body occurs within 1.5 to 4 hours (depending on the type of pain medication used).

Ask the people around you, the medical staff to help you at the first attempt to get up after the end of anesthesia on the first day (dizziness is possible).

After 30 - 60 minutes after the end of the operation, you can drink drinks, take easily digestible food in the evening - in agreement with the surgeon.

Side effects and unwanted reactions

Regional anesthesia, as a rule, has less effect on the body than general anesthesia. Complications during spinal anesthesia are extremely rare. With anesthesia, the risk of complications depends on the individual case. The type and severity of the disease, as well as concomitant diseases, general condition, age, and bad habits matter. All activities in anesthesiology (eg, infusions ("droppers"), blood transfusions, placement of a catheter into a central vein, and subsequent treatment in the intensive care unit, etc.) carry risks. But the risk of developing complications does not mean that complications will definitely come. When we cross a road, we run the risk of being hit by a car, but not all pedestrians get into traffic accidents.

Possible side effects and complications:

Headache - at the end of the operation and anesthesia, you begin to actively move. This can provoke a headache. This undesirable effect is noted in ≈ 1% of cases. In most cases, the headache goes away within a day. If you have a headache in the postoperative period, ask the nurse to measure your blood pressure. If blood pressure is within your normal range - We recommend: bed rest, drinking plenty of fluids (you can have tea, coffee). If the headache is very severe (which is very rare), contact the medical staff.

Decrease in blood pressure - associated with the direct effects of spinal anesthesia, lasts a very short time, is eliminated by intravenous administration of solutions, plentiful drinking. Occurs in ≈1% of patients.

Urinary retention - in some cases, more often in men, some difficulties with urination may be observed on the first day after surgery. This unwanted effect usually does not require any treatment. If you are experiencing serious difficulty urinating, please contact your nurse.

Pain at the injection site (in the back) - Usually does not require treatment. Passes within the first day. (≈1% of cases). In this case, taking paracetamol, diclofenac can help. If the pain is very severe, contact the medical staff.

Neurological disorders - loss of sensation, tingling sensation, persistent muscle weakness lasting more than a day are very rare (less than 1 in 5000).

Note!

  • It is forbidden to eat or drink anything 6-8 hours before the operation!
  • It is forbidden to smoke 6 hours before the operation!
  • Before surgery, remove removable dentures and contact lenses. If you have ocular prostheses, be sure to warn the anesthesiologist about this!
  • Do not wear make-up or paint your nails before surgery.
  • Remove earrings, rings, chains, other jewelry and wigs!
  • For believers, it is allowed to leave a simple pectoral cross on a braid (not on a chain).

Failure to comply with these rules significantly increases the risk of possible complications.

We ask you to inform your anesthesiologist about all your chronic diseases, surgeries, injuries, allergic reactions, intolerance to any medications, and any medications you have recently taken. This information can be very useful in preventing possible complications during anesthesia.

On the eve of the operation, it is advisable to take a walk in the fresh air, relax, calm down and try to get enough sleep.

Read also more detailed information on how to properly prepare for the upcoming anesthesia and surgery in the "Preparing for surgery" section.

Anesthesia in the spine

What is Spinal Anesthesia?

The advantages of this type of anesthesia:

  1. Reduces the amount of blood lost during surgery.
  2. There is less risk of developing complications after surgery, such as thrombosis, pulmonary embolism.
  3. Fewer surgery-related, unwanted effects and anesthesia on the heart and lungs.
  4. No pain at the end of the operation.
  5. Lack of weakness, feelings of nausea, vomiting.
  6. There are no such strict restrictions on the intake of drinks and food in the postoperative period.
  7. With spinal anesthesia, you can communicate with the anesthetist and surgeon before, during and after the operation.

At your request, the anesthesiologist can make you sleep-like by injecting additional medication into a vein. But We do not recommend using this feature.

Anesthesia - types of anesthesia

In modern medicine, two main types of anesthesia are used:

  • general - when the function of pain perception by the body is turned off in parallel with the patient's consciousness, that is, the patient is transferred to artificial sleep;
  • epidural - with the help of special manipulations, sensitivity is “turned off” only in a certain area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe body, and the person himself does not lose consciousness.

Spinal anesthesia is a type of epidural anesthesia. Most often it is used during childbirth.

This method helps to keep the woman in labor in the mind, and gives the baby the opportunity to be born on her own. Such painkillers are used for cesarean section and for simple childbirth, when it is difficult for a woman to cope with pain.

Drugs used in regional anesthesia

The doctor selects the anesthetic and its dose individually for each anesthesia, depending on the duration and nature of the surgical intervention. On average, 1-2 (ml) of the drug is used for each segment of the spinal cord where it is necessary to block.

The estimated dose of anesthetic is administered fractionally, in several doses.

For spinal anesthesia, various kinds of anesthetics are used, which have different properties and give a different effect in duration.

There are really a lot of alternative options, and therefore, even if you are allergic to any drug, there is nothing to worry about, the doctor will definitely select a replacement.

Here is a short list of medicines that are used in this method of pain relief:

Preparation for the procedure and technique

Does spinal anesthesia hurt? The whole procedure lasts about 20 minutes and does not cause discomfort to the patient. An injection in the back is painless.

There are the following contraindications to spinal anesthesia:

  1. Refusal of the patient from this method of anesthesia.
  2. Lack of conditions for resuscitation.
  3. Loss of a large amount of blood by the patient.
  4. The patient is dehydrated.
  5. Reduced blood clotting. Treatment with drugs that reduce blood clotting.
  6. Sespis (blood poisoning).
  7. Infection of the skin at the puncture site.
  8. Allergy to anesthetics.
  9. Increased intracranial pressure.
  10. Bradycardia (slow heart rate), heart rhythm disturbances. Heart defects.
  11. Exacerbation of diseases caused by the herpes virus.
  12. Diseases of the central nervous system.
  13. Hypoxia, malformations and fetal death (with anesthesia for childbirth).
  14. Lack of necessary time for the procedure.

Epidural anesthesia works by creating a pharmacological blockade of the spinal roots - one of the basic structural elements of the spinal cord. To do this, use special preparations of local anesthesia (bupivacaine, levobupivacaine, ropivacaine), opiates (fentanyl, sufentanil).

An anesthetic solution is injected into the epidural space between the dura mater of the spinal cord and the periosteum of the vertebrae, which makes it possible to block the pain impulses of the spinal roots.

To increase the duration and intensity of pain relief, special substances are added to the local anesthetic solution - vasoconstrictors that constrict blood vessels (ephedrine, phenylephrine, adrenaline).

Epidural Anesthesia Catheter

Before anesthesia, the doctor examines the patient, excluding problems in the lumbar region, skin diseases and other contraindications. Preparation includes a blood test for hemoglobin, hematocrit.

This will help to identify anemia, which can provoke a complication in the form of arterial hypotension - a decrease in blood pressure. According to indications, a study is carried out on the value of prothrombin time to ensure normal blood clotting.

Tip: the patient should know that epidural anesthesia can only be performed in an operating room, which will be equipped with equipment for monitoring his condition, resuscitation, and general anesthesia.

How is epidural anesthesia done? Preparation includes treatment of the skin with antiseptics and the patient taking the desired posture (lying on his side or sitting).

Then the doctor palpates the iliac crests and selects the area for puncture. When the needle ceases to feel resistance during the passage of the needle, it means that the epidural space has been reached.

If the doctor did everything right, there will be no pain.

Then a “test dose” of a local anesthetic solution is injected and supplemented with an anesthetic drug or a thin catheter is passed through the needle lumen for fractional (gradual) administration.

In the place of its exit from the skin, it is fixed with adhesive tape. Before the direct effect of anesthesia, warmth and numbness are felt in the lower extremities.

It starts within a few minutes, and the duration of the effect can be adjusted by adding a new dose of drugs.

Tip: the patient has every right to refuse this particular type of anesthesia, even if there are no contraindications. The argument can be a personal desire, an unpleasant experience, painfulness of the procedure. A local anesthetic solution is used to anesthetize the process.

Other complications

The use of epidural anesthesia does less harm to the human body than the general one.

But here the qualification of the anesthesiologist plays a role in many respects. The fact is that not only the effect of anesthesia, but also its consequences depend on how the puncture is performed correctly.

In addition, it is still worth noting that the disease itself plays an important role, which will be eliminated in an operable way. In addition, you need to take into account:

  • the severity of the disease;
  • patient's age;
  • the general state of health and the human body;
  • whether there are secondary diseases, and at what stage of development they are;
  • whether the patient has bad habits, and what lifestyle he led before the operation.

But still, before agreeing to the procedure, you should know what complications can be with spinal anesthesia:

  1. After the surgical intervention is completed, the patient will feel nausea and headache for the first day. To get rid of such symptoms faster, it is best to spend this day in bed and drink more warm liquids.
  2. Also, at first, blood pressure indicators will be at low values. To eliminate this consequence, the patient again needs to drink a lot of fluids, and the doctor must put special drugs intravenously that increase blood pressure.
  3. A few days after the operation, the place where the puncture was placed will still hurt, as such, treatment is not required here, you just need to try to make this area less in contact with objects, for example, sleep on your stomach, if possible after the operation.
  4. Among men, there is such a consequence as problems with urination. Usually such a problem disappears after a day, as the operation ended.

There may also be neurological disorders that manifest themselves in the form of tingling in certain areas of the skin, or the skin will partially lose its sensitivity.

There may also be weakness in the muscles of the legs. Just for the last reason, women who have undergone spinal puncture during childbirth should not get up for the next 4 hours.

After all, standing with a child in their arms, their legs can simply give way and they will drop the child.

Allergies may also occur.

But it makes itself felt in the event that the doctor has incorrectly selected an anesthetic solution for his patient.

Nevertheless, it is worth noting that all of the above-mentioned complications are not so severe and, with a timely reaction, can disappear in just 1-2 days. But for the sake of justice, it is necessary to stipulate the point that this method of anesthesia can cause more serious problems - bradycardia, spinal or epidural hematoma.

And in order to avoid all this, you should carefully select an anesthesiologist for yourself. And if you have an operation, then choose a good medical institution, about which there are only positive reviews.

And only then can you be sure that the operation will be successful without affecting your health.

Very rare, but complications do occur. According to statistics, this occurs in less than 0.05% of cases, and in percentage terms, epidural anesthesia is more dangerous in this sense. Despite the fact that most often complications disappear after a while without consequences, they are still worth listing:

One of the types of anesthesia during surgery is spinal. It consists in the fact that a local anesthetic solution is injected into the subarachnoid space of the spinal cord.

Some types of anesthesia may be given at the site where the lumbar puncture is done. Through this puncture, spinal anesthesia can be performed.

Epidural anesthesia can be performed with the use of a needle of a larger diameter, but with a shallower insertion depth.

Spinal anesthesia can be done during operations on the lower extremities and pelvic organs.

Spinal anesthesia is sometimes accompanied by unpleasant consequences.

Despite the fact that it is less dangerous than general anesthesia, a number of complications can develop after surgery using spinal anesthesia:

  1. Headache. This is the most common complication of spinal anesthesia. Usually, headache develops against the background of reduced arterial and intracranial pressure.
  2. Hypotension, low arterial blood pressure.
  3. Swelling of the legs.
  4. Retention of urine.
  5. Inflammation at the injection site of the anesthetic.
  6. Backache.

Complications depend on the experience of the anesthesiologist and your compliance with medical recommendations.

Anesthesia epidural complications are quite rare, although such cases do occur. Most often noted:

  1. In 1 out of 20 patients, the drug does not work to the end, and the nerve endings are not completely blocked, which means that pain relief will be ineffective.
  2. In the presence of coagulopathy, there is a risk of hematoma formation.
  3. Accidental injury during puncture of the dura can lead to leakage of cerebrospinal fluid into the epidural region. This is fraught with headache after surgery.
  4. A large dose of pain medication may be toxic, resulting in an ineffective blockade.
  5. There may be side effects from the use of specific pain medications.

From all of the above, we can conclude that epidural anesthesia gives severe consequences for health in very rare cases.

One of the commonly used types of anesthesia for operations in the lower body of the patient is spinal anesthesia. This is the name of the type of anesthesia that allows surgical intervention below the level of the navel to a person who is conscious at that time. Such anesthesia requires experience and competence from the anesthesiologist. The technique of its implementation is a procedure in which an anesthetic is injected into the spinal canal using a special needle.

Spinal anesthesia is a technique that helps to influence the nerve roots of the spinal cord. It completely blocks the transmission of nerve impulses, so the patient does not feel pain during surgical treatment. Anesthesia is provided by the introduction of an anesthetic into the spine (subarachnoid space), which gives the patient a feeling of comfort during surgery. Thanks to anesthesia, the patient gets rid of the state of panic and fear.

Anesthesiologist performs anesthesia

Indications for the use of anesthesia are extensive, but it can be done only after careful preparation of the patient and with his consent. The method of introducing a medicinal substance into the spine requires a detailed history before starting the operation. Only competent preparation for the procedure will make anesthesia safe and reliable, eliminating the likelihood of complications both during and after it.

The technique of spinal anesthesia differs from other similar procedures in that it uses ultra-thin needles about 130 mm long and less than 1 mm in diameter. In addition, spinal anesthesia is done just below the level of the patient's spinal cord. The nerve root blocking drug is taken in a small dose and sent directly to the point in the spinal canal where the cerebrospinal fluid is concentrated.

Spinal anesthesia, like any other anesthesia, has both indications for use and contraindications. It is up to the anesthesiologist to decide whether to prescribe this type of anesthesia to the patient. The impact on the spine can only be carried out after collecting complete information about the patient's state of health (physical and mental). Proper preparation for this operation is also mandatory, the responsibility for which falls on the shoulders of the patient.

It is important to understand that not only doctors, but also patients contribute to the success of treatment. If there are indications for spinal anesthesia, the patient must prepare for the procedure, taking into account the requirements and advice of the anesthesiologist.

Needle position for spinal anesthesia

The main task of this type of anesthesia is the introduction of a special anesthetic solution into the liquor (cerebrospinal fluid). How many doses of the drug should be administered is decided by the doctor in each case individually. The technique of the operation involves the following step-by-step advancement of the needle:

  • through the skin and subcutaneous tissue;
  • through a series of intervertebral ligaments;
  • through the epidural zone;
  • through the dura mater.

The final target of the needle is the subarachnoid space (cerebrospinal fluid) that surrounds the spinal cord. It is in the spinal zone that the large nerves that are responsible for the transmission of the pain impulse pass. An anesthetic injected into this space provides anesthesia by blocking nerve signals. This technique makes insensitive only a certain region of the patient's body, which is active during the operation, but at the same time it is insensitive and the patient is not in pain.

Stages

To perform an anesthetic operation, the anesthetist uses a special needle, syringe, and local anesthetic. The technique of the procedure requires the patient to take the correct position of the body. The best option is a sitting position. In order to avoid pain during and after the operation, the patient must fully follow the doctor's recommendations before and after anesthesia.

The correct position of the patient during spinal anesthesia:

  • it is desirable to sit, but you can also lie on your side;
  • selections must be brought closer to the chest;
  • the back should be strongly bent;
  • arms bent at the elbows should lie on the knees.

Position of the patient during spinal anesthesia

Please note that while anesthesia is given to the spine, the patient must remain absolutely still. This is the only way to avoid possible complications during and after the surgical operation.

Spinal anesthesia is performed as follows:

  • between the vertebrae of the lower back, the best place for the injection is determined;
  • the procedure is sterile (the doctor's hands and the surface of the patient's skin are treated);
  • the injection site is covered with sterile films;
  • anesthetic is drawn into 2 syringes;
  • the first syringe is used to anesthetize the area through which anesthesia will be administered;
  • the second syringe ensures that the solution enters the spinal canal.

During anesthesia, the correct position of the patient is helped by the assistant anesthesiologist (nurse). Such anesthesia is carried out slowly and carefully. Subject to the necessary conditions and the prescribed technique for anesthesia, patients do not feel pain. After completion of this operation, a bandage is applied to the spine at the injection site. After this procedure, the patient is immediately placed on the operating table in a position that is convenient for surgeons.

Indications

Thanks to spinal anesthesia, operations can be performed on the perineum, on the pelvic organs or on the lower extremities. In some cases, such anesthesia has certain advantages - indications that should be considered for the well-being of the patient. Doing anesthesia in the cerebrospinal fluid through the spine can be people of different ages.

Main indications:

  • in hernia repair, gynecological operations and in urology;
  • during operations on the legs and in the perineum;
  • suppression of stress reactions of the body;
  • in obstetrics.

Anesthesia support during childbirth

If the pregnant woman is relatively healthy and her fetus is healthy, the indications for anesthesia are obvious. Thanks to this anesthesia, giving birth is not painful, and the woman herself is involved in the process of childbirth and hears the first cry of her child. Therefore, today, many expectant mothers, if there are no contraindications, insist on the use of spinal anesthesia during childbirth (caesarean section).

Additional indications for the use of spinal anesthesia are diseases of the lungs, stomach and intestines. In this case, the anesthesiologist takes into account the drugs used in the treatment, for example, of duodenal ulcer (Omez, etc.). So, taking into account the interaction of the drug Omez with an anesthetic, the doctor determines the optimal dose of the solution for anesthesia, foreseeing how long the anesthesia will last and how the patient will move away from it.

Contraindications

Indications for spinal anesthesia are surgical operations in the lower part of the body. However, in some cases there are contraindications for the use of anesthesia in the spine. In each case, this issue is jointly decided by the anesthesiologist and the patient, or his representatives. Most doctors insist on the use of spinal anesthesia in the event that you can do without general anesthesia.

There are 2 types of contraindications for this type of anesthesia:

  • relative contraindications;
  • absolute contraindications.

Relative contraindications can be defined as follows:

  • emotional and psychological lability of the patient;
  • the presence of mental and neurological pathologies;
  • oligophrenia (low level of intelligence);
  • some heart conditions;
  • spinal anomalies;
  • unknown duration of surgery;
  • fetal death or fetal malformations (in obstetrics);
  • the risk of bleeding.

Absolute contraindications:

  • categorical disagreement of the patient;
  • lack of mandatory conditions and equipment;
  • hypertension (persistent or episodic increase in blood pressure);
  • infectious skin lesions in the puncture area;
  • coagulopathy and other disorders of the blood coagulation system;
  • amputation of limbs;
  • the use of certain drugs before surgery (an example is the incompatibility of drugs).

Benefits of Spinal Anesthesia

Why is spinal anesthesia gaining popularity?

Anesthesia is an artificially induced loss of sensation. A person in a state of such numbness does not hurt or fear. His body is provided with a fixed and comfortable position for surgeons, which increases the chances of a positive outcome of the operation. Patients who have undergone anesthesia testify that they did not feel pain during the procedure.