Understanding Anesthesiology - The Global Regional Anesthesia ...

Spinal anesthesia
Spinal anesthesia is the technique where a small-calibre needle is placed in the intrathecal
space, through which a small volume of local anesthetic is delivered. Spinal anesthesia provides
up to 3 1/2 hours of surgical anesthesia and is most commonly used for lower limb
surgery, inguinal hernia repair, genitourinary procedures, Caesarian section and some gynecological
procedures.
Any procedure for which pain sensation is restricted to T4 (nipple line) or lower can be performed
under spinal anesthesia. Any intra-peritoneal procedure requires a T4 block, even if
the incision is much lower, because the peritoneal innervation is transmitted at that level.
Blocking the spinal cord above that level is undesirable, as the neural control of the heart
and muscles of respiration begin to be compromised. From a practical perspective, abdominal
procedures are rarely performed under spinal anesthesia because the precise level of
block achieved by a given dose is difficult to predict. The notable exception is Caesarian sections,
for which spinal anesthesia is the preferred technique.
Related Glossary Terms
Baricity, Bupivacaine, Dura, Epidural anesthesia, Epidural space, Intrathecal space, Lidocaine,
Morphine Sulfate, Pencil-point, Regional anesthesia, Subarachnoid space, Sympathetic
nervous system
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Chapter 3 - Regional Anesthesia
Chapter 3 - Regional Anesthesia
Chapter 3 - Regional Anesthesia
Chapter 3 - Regional Anesthesia
Chapter 5 - Obstetrical Anesthesia
Chapter 6 - Local Anesthetics
Chapter 6 - Local Anesthetics