Spinal anesthetic

From WikiMD's Food, Medicine & Wellness Encyclopedia

Spinal Anesthetic

A Spinal Anesthetic also known as Spinal Block is a type of anesthesia that is used to block pain from an area of the body. This is achieved by injecting an anesthetic medicine into the subarachnoid space, which is the area surrounding the spinal cord.

History[edit | edit source]

The first spinal anesthetic was administered in 1885 by James Leonard Corning, an American neurologist. He discovered that injecting cocaine into the spinal canal could produce anesthesia.

Procedure[edit | edit source]

The procedure for administering a spinal anesthetic involves the patient either sitting up or lying on their side. A needle is then inserted into the lower back, specifically into the subarachnoid space. The anesthetic medicine is then injected, which numbs the lower half of the body.

Uses[edit | edit source]

Spinal anesthetics are commonly used for surgeries of the lower abdomen, pelvis, rectum, or legs. They are also used for procedures such as labor and delivery, and certain types of biopsy.

Risks and Complications[edit | edit source]

While spinal anesthetics are generally safe, they do carry some risks. These can include headache, nausea, low blood pressure, and in rare cases, damage to the nerves or spinal cord.

See Also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]



Template:Medical procedures

Wiki.png

Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD


Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.

Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.


Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD