Epidural Anesthesia
Spinal Anesthesia and Epidural Anesthesia
Spinal anesthesia and epidural anesthesia are methods of numbing the body before a medical procedure. They are done by injecting numbing medicine (anesthetic) into the back, near the spinal cord.
Spinal anesthesia is usually done to numb an area at and below the place where the injection is made. It is often used during surgeries of the pelvis, hips, legs, and lower abdomen. It begins to work almost immediately. Epidural anesthesia may be done to numb an area above or below the area where the injection is made. It is often used during childbirth and after major abdominal or chest surgery. It begins to work after 10–20 minutes.
LET YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER KNOW ABOUT:
Any allergies you have.
All medicines you are …show more content…
taking, including vitamins, herbs, eye drops, creams, and over-the-counter medicines.
Previous problems you or members of your family have had with the use of anesthetics.
Any blood disorders you have.
Previous surgeries you have had.
Any medical conditions you have.
Whether you are pregnant or may be pregnant.
Any recent alcohol, tobacco, or drug use.
RISKS AND COMPLICATIONS
Generally, this is a safe procedure. However, problems can occur, including:
Headache.
A drop in blood pressure. In some cases, this can lead to a heart attack or a stroke.
Nerve damage.
Infection.
Allergic reaction to medicines.
Seizures.
Inability to breathe. If this happens, a tube may be put into your windpipe (trachea) and a machine may be used to help you breathe until the anesthetic wears off.
Long-lasting numbness, pain, or loss of function of body parts.
BEFORE THE PROCEDURE
Follow instructions from your health care provider about eating or drinking restrictions.
Do not use any tobacco products, including cigarettes, chewing tobacco, or electronic cigarettes, for as long as possible before your procedure. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.
Ask your health care provider about:
Changing or stopping your regular medicines. This is especially important if you are taking diabetes medicines or blood thinners.
Changing or stopping your dietary supplements.
Taking medicines such as aspirin and ibuprofen. These medicines can thin your blood. Do not take these medicines before your procedure if your health care provider instructs you not to.
Ask your health care provider if you will have to stay overnight at the hospital. If you will not have to stay overnight:
Plan to have someone take you home from the hospital or clinic.
Plan to have someone with you for 24 hours.
PROCEDURE
A health care provider will put patches on your chest, a cuff around your arm, or a sensor device on your finger. These will be attached to monitors that will allow your health care provider to watch your blood pressure, pulse, and oxygen levels to make sure that the anesthetic does not cause any problems.
An IV tube may be inserted into your arm. The tube will be used to give you fluids and medicines throughout the procedure as needed.
You will be asked to sit up or to lie on your side with your knees and your chin bent toward your chest. These positions open up the space between the bones in your back, which makes it easier to inject the medicine.
The area of your back where the medicine will be injected will be cleaned.
A medicine called a local anesthetic may be injected in the area where the spinal or epidural anesthetic will be injected.
A needle will be inserted between the bones of your back. While this is being done.
Continue to breathe normally.
Stay as still and quiet as you can.
If you feel a tingling shock or pain going down your leg, tell your health care provider but try not to move.
The spinal or epidural anesthetic will be injected.
If you receive an epidural anesthetic and need more than one dose, a tiny, flexible tube (catheter) will be placed where the anesthetic was injected. Additional doses will be given through the catheter. If you need pain medicine after surgery, the catheter will be kept in place.
If an epidural catheter has not been placed in your injection site or left there, a small bandage (dressing) will be placed over the injection site.
AFTER THE PROCEDURE
You will need to stay in bed until it is safe for you to walk.
Your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and blood oxygen level will be monitored often until the medicines you were given have worn off.
If you have a catheter, it will be removed when it is no longer
needed.
Spinal anesthesia and epidural anesthesia are methods of numbing the body before a medical procedure. They are done by injecting numbing medicine (anesthetic) into the back, near the spinal cord.
Spinal anesthesia is usually done to numb an area at and below the place where the injection is made. It is often used during surgeries of the pelvis, hips, legs, and lower abdomen. It begins to work almost immediately. Epidural anesthesia may be done to numb an area above or below the area where the injection is made. It is often used during childbirth and after major abdominal or chest surgery. It begins to work after 10–20 minutes.
LET YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER KNOW ABOUT:
Any allergies you have.
All medicines you are …show more content…
taking, including vitamins, herbs, eye drops, creams, and over-the-counter medicines.
Previous problems you or members of your family have had with the use of anesthetics.
Any blood disorders you have.
Previous surgeries you have had.
Any medical conditions you have.
Whether you are pregnant or may be pregnant.
Any recent alcohol, tobacco, or drug use.
RISKS AND COMPLICATIONS
Generally, this is a safe procedure. However, problems can occur, including:
Headache.
A drop in blood pressure. In some cases, this can lead to a heart attack or a stroke.
Nerve damage.
Infection.
Allergic reaction to medicines.
Seizures.
Inability to breathe. If this happens, a tube may be put into your windpipe (trachea) and a machine may be used to help you breathe until the anesthetic wears off.
Long-lasting numbness, pain, or loss of function of body parts.
BEFORE THE PROCEDURE
Follow instructions from your health care provider about eating or drinking restrictions.
Do not use any tobacco products, including cigarettes, chewing tobacco, or electronic cigarettes, for as long as possible before your procedure. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.
Ask your health care provider about:
Changing or stopping your regular medicines. This is especially important if you are taking diabetes medicines or blood thinners.
Changing or stopping your dietary supplements.
Taking medicines such as aspirin and ibuprofen. These medicines can thin your blood. Do not take these medicines before your procedure if your health care provider instructs you not to.
Ask your health care provider if you will have to stay overnight at the hospital. If you will not have to stay overnight:
Plan to have someone take you home from the hospital or clinic.
Plan to have someone with you for 24 hours.
PROCEDURE
A health care provider will put patches on your chest, a cuff around your arm, or a sensor device on your finger. These will be attached to monitors that will allow your health care provider to watch your blood pressure, pulse, and oxygen levels to make sure that the anesthetic does not cause any problems.
An IV tube may be inserted into your arm. The tube will be used to give you fluids and medicines throughout the procedure as needed.
You will be asked to sit up or to lie on your side with your knees and your chin bent toward your chest. These positions open up the space between the bones in your back, which makes it easier to inject the medicine.
The area of your back where the medicine will be injected will be cleaned.
A medicine called a local anesthetic may be injected in the area where the spinal or epidural anesthetic will be injected.
A needle will be inserted between the bones of your back. While this is being done.
Continue to breathe normally.
Stay as still and quiet as you can.
If you feel a tingling shock or pain going down your leg, tell your health care provider but try not to move.
The spinal or epidural anesthetic will be injected.
If you receive an epidural anesthetic and need more than one dose, a tiny, flexible tube (catheter) will be placed where the anesthetic was injected. Additional doses will be given through the catheter. If you need pain medicine after surgery, the catheter will be kept in place.
If an epidural catheter has not been placed in your injection site or left there, a small bandage (dressing) will be placed over the injection site.
AFTER THE PROCEDURE
You will need to stay in bed until it is safe for you to walk.
Your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and blood oxygen level will be monitored often until the medicines you were given have worn off.
If you have a catheter, it will be removed when it is no longer
needed.