In the article, we consider the effects of spinal anesthesia and reviews.
Any surgical interventions and procedures that cause pain are performed in modern medicine under general anesthesia. The type of anesthesia is determined by the type, duration of the operation, the condition of the patient as a whole. There are two types of anesthesia - general anesthesia and spinal anesthesia, in which a certain area of the body loses its sensitivity.
According to reviews, spinal anesthesia is preferable in some cases.
Description
If during the operation it is necessary to deprive the lower part of the human body of sensitivity, then they do spinal anesthesia. The essence of this method consists in the introduction of an anesthetic into a certain area near the spinal cord (in the back - therefore, this method was called that way). This subarachnoid space, which is located between the spinal cord and the meninges, is filled with cerebrospinal fluid - cerebrospinal fluid.
A huge number of large nerves passes through the cerebrospinal fluid, the transmission or pain signals to the brain must be blocked. Spinal anesthesia is done in the lumbar region, the area below the lower back is anesthetized. The anesthesiologist should pass a needle to the spine, ligaments between the vertebrae, the epidural and the meninges, then enter the selected anesthetic.
There are numerous reviews of cesarean section with spinal anesthesia.
Spinal Anesthesia Technique
To carry out this method of anesthesia, they use a special (spinal) needle, very thin, selected by an anesthetic and a syringe. A very significant point is the correct positioning of the patient's body. Emphasis is placed on this with spinal and epidural analgesia to avoid abnormal punctures.
Spinal anesthesia has the following technique: anesthesia is done in the spine in this position: the patient sits (it is necessary to bend the back, press the chin to the chest, bend your arms at the elbows) or lie on your side. A sitting position is preferable, the spinal region is better visible. Complete immobility is required to avoid complications during spinal anesthesia. Before performing anesthesia in the back, a specialist will use palpation to determine the optimal site for the injection (this is the area between the third, fourth and fifth vertebrae).
To prevent infection or blood poisoning, they are treated with special preparations where the subdural anesthesia will be performed; full sterility is required. Local anesthesia is done in the area of the introduction of the spinal needle. For this procedure, the needle is distinguished by its length (approximately thirteen centimeters) and small diameter (approximately one millimeter), so local anesthesia is not done in some cases. A needle is inserted very slowly, overcoming all skin layers, the epidermis layer, the hard membrane of the spinal cord membrane . The needle trajectory stops at the entrance to the subarachnoid cavity, a mandrin is pulled out of it (that is, a conductor that closes its lumen). If the action is performed correctly, then the cerebrospinal fluid flows from the needle cannula; an anesthetic is introduced, the needle is removed, the injection site is covered with sterile materials.
Immediately after applying the medicine, a person may feel a side effect: tingling in the legs, heat spill (it will last some more time - a natural effect of pain relief). In contrast to epidural, perfect anesthesia during anesthesia of the spinal cord occurs after ten minutes, the type of drug determines the time of functioning of anesthesia, depending on the duration of the intervention.
Spinal Anesthesia
Spinal anesthesia is carried out using various drugs: adjuvants and anesthetics proper (the former are additives). A common drug for this type of pain relief is Lidocaine. It is suitable for short interventions. Used along with fentanyl, it allows to provide the tenth degree of the block for 30-45 minutes. Procaine is a short-acting medicine. A solution of 5% is used. Combined with fentanyl to enhance blockade.
The drug "Bupivacaine." Its specificity is the relative signs of action. The period of the blockade level lasts up to an hour, more extended dosages can be used (starting from five milligrams or more).
"Naropin." Used for prolonged interventions. Spinal anesthesia is allowed to be made with a solution of 0.75% (from 3 to 5 hours of influence) and 1% (from 4 to 6).
Adjuvants: adrenaline (prolongs block time), fentanyl (enhances the anesthetic effect); in some cases, morphine or clonidine is used as an additive.
Spinal anesthesia for caesarean section
An operation such as a cesarean section is the manual removal of the baby with the separation of the placenta. Be sure to anesthetize the patient. Spinal anesthesia for cesarean section eliminates the likelihood of drug effects on the child. For the first time with cesarean section, spinal anesthesia was used by Chrys in 1900. Epidural and spinal anesthesia are used almost everywhere when there are no contraindications. According to reviews, cesarean with spinal anesthesia is absolutely painless.
Difference from Epidural Anesthesia
An injection is made with neuroaxial anesthesia once (what is the main difference from the epidural technique, in which a catheter is inserted to enter the medicine). Contraindications to the use of this method are as follows: a reduced degree of platelets in the blood, poor blood clotting, heart rhythm disturbance, infectious processes in the injection zone. Recovery is fast. The differences and the main advantage, when compared with general anesthesia, are the extremely low probability of occurrence of dangerous complications for the mother and the child, and relatively small blood loss.
Reviews of the effects of spinal anesthesia for caesarean section should be consulted in advance.
During childbirth
The most common method of labor pain relief is spinal anesthesia. Its main purpose is the elimination of pain during labor, creating safety and comfort for the child and woman in childbirth. The drug is injected into the lumbar region, suppressing pain. At the same time, it is calculated so that the effect of the drug decreases by the period of attempts, the only exception is the high degree of myopia in a woman and heart defects. It is advisable to do lumbar anesthesia:
- if the woman is not psychologically ready for childbirth;
- if a large fruit;
- at the birth of the first child;
- with premature birth;
- for stimulation: when labor is absent after amniotic fluid withdrawal.
According to reviews, spinal anesthesia during childbirth is simply irreplaceable. The whole process goes much easier thanks to her.
Contraindications for spinal anesthesia
Spinal anesthesia has a variety of contraindications, they can be divided into two types: relative and absolute. Relative contraindications include:
- emergency situations when there is no time to carry out the required preparatory procedures with the patient;
- unstable patient mood (lability);
- abnormal defects of the vertebral structure;
- malformations of the baby or fetal death;
- high pressure inside the skull;
- the likelihood of bleeding, as well as an indefinite time of surgery;
- hypoxia, pathologies of the central nervous system.
Absolute contraindications for this type of analgesia are:
- categorical reluctance of the patient;
- an allergic reaction to anesthetics;
- lack of resuscitation conditions and insufficient lighting;
- skin infections: meningitis, herpes, sepsis;
- intracranial hypertension.
We will consider reviews of spinal anesthesia below, but for now we will consider its consequences.
Consequences of anesthesia
Like any other anesthesia, spinal anesthesia has a number of natural consequences. The most extensive study of them was carried out in France for five months. The complications and results of spinal anesthesia were analyzed from more than 40 thousand people. The number of significant complications is as follows: 0.01% - fatal outcome (of the total number - 6 people); 0 - cramps; 0.06 - asystole (26); 0.06 - trauma to the spinal cord or roots (24); 0.01 - horse tail syndrome (5); 0.05 - radiculopathy (19).
Also negative consequences are:
- Slowing heart rate, which can lead to a stop, if you do not take action.
- Bradycardia
- Increased pressure inside the skull.
- Hematoma on the back.
- Urinary retention (mainly in men).
- Nausea.
- Headaches after spinal anesthesia. According to reviews, this is the most common complication.
This anesthesia is used very often. We learn what patients say about him.
Spinal Anesthesia Reviews
It requires a professional and experienced doctor. Reviews of spinal anesthesia are abundant.
Patients like the fact that from such anesthesia there is no severe effect on the body. Many people carry it very easily. This has a lesser effect on the brain. The good news is that during the operation you can be conscious, childbirth can be partially seen. Recovery after surgery is faster than general anesthesia.
There are also negative opinions. In particular, such reviews are left by women who have used such anesthesia in the process of natural birth. Patients note a significant slowdown in contractions.
The minuses also include the fact that you can’t sit down and get up for a day, there are back pain, psychological shock, a difficult period after anesthesia, severe headaches, vomiting and nausea.