Regional anaesthesia

Regional anaesthesia is a type of anaesthesia that is used to numb only a specific region of the body. This allows procedures to be performed without the patient feeling any pain. The technique is often used for surgical procedures and pain management.

Types of Regional Anaesthesia

There are several types of regional anaesthesia, including:

• Spinal anaesthesia: This type of anaesthesia is used for surgeries of the lower abdomen, pelvis, rectum, and legs. It involves injecting anaesthetic into the spinal fluid to numb the lower half of the body.

• Epidural anaesthesia: This is similar to spinal anaesthesia, but the anaesthetic is injected into the epidural space rather than the spinal fluid. It is often used for labour and childbirth.

• Nerve block: This involves injecting anaesthetic around a specific nerve or group of nerves. It is often used for surgeries on the arms, legs, hands, and feet.

Procedure

The procedure for administering regional anaesthesia involves several steps. First, the area to be numbed is cleaned and sterilized. Then, a local anaesthetic is applied to numb the skin. Next, a needle is inserted into the numbed area and the regional anaesthetic is injected. The patient may feel some pressure or discomfort during this process, but should not feel any pain.

Risks and Complications

Like all medical procedures, regional anaesthesia carries some risks. These can include:

• Allergic reaction: Some people may have an allergic reaction to the anaesthetic used.

• Nerve damage: In rare cases, the needle used to inject the anaesthetic can damage a nerve, leading to temporary or permanent numbness or weakness.

• Infection: There is a small risk of infection at the injection site.

See Also

• General anaesthesia
• Local anaesthesia
• Pain management

Regional anaesthesia Resources
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