Regional
Regional anesthesia is a type of anesthesia that blocks pain in a particular area of the body. The goal of regional anesthesia is to provide pain relief, rather than making a patient unconscious. This is achieved by blocking the nerves that carry the pain signals to the brain.
Types of Regional Anesthesia[edit | edit source]
There are several types of regional anesthesia, including:
- Spinal anesthesia: This type of anesthesia is used for surgeries of the lower limbs and abdomen. It involves injecting an anesthetic into the spinal canal to numb the lower half of the body.
- Epidural anesthesia: Similar to spinal anesthesia, epidural anesthesia is used for surgeries of the lower limbs and abdomen. However, the anesthetic is injected into the epidural space, which is outside the spinal canal.
- Nerve block: This type of anesthesia is used for surgeries on specific areas of the body, such as the arm or leg. It involves injecting an anesthetic around a specific nerve or group of nerves.
- Local anesthesia: This type of anesthesia is used for minor surgeries and procedures. It involves injecting an anesthetic directly into the area of the body where the procedure will be performed.
Procedure[edit | edit source]
The procedure for administering regional anesthesia involves the following steps:
- The anesthesiologist will clean the skin over the area where the anesthetic will be injected.
- A local anesthetic is often used to numb the skin and tissue down to the site of the injection.
- The anesthesiologist will then insert a needle through the numbed tissue and into the specific area where the anesthetic will be injected.
- Once the needle is in the correct location, the anesthesiologist will inject the anesthetic. The patient may feel some pressure during this injection.
Risks and Complications[edit | edit source]
Like all medical procedures, regional anesthesia carries some risks. These may include:
- Allergic reaction: Some people may have an allergic reaction to the anesthetic used.
- Nerve damage: In rare cases, the needle or the anesthetic can damage a nerve.
- Infection: There is a small risk of infection at the site of the injection.
See Also[edit | edit source]
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