Spinal Anaesthesia: A guide for Patients
This page provides important information about spinal anaesthesia. This is a type of injection of usually local anesthestic and strong painkiller in to the fluid around the spinal cord.
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Depending on the medicines injected, the effect of a spinal anaesthetic ranges from complete lack of sensation and movement from the abdomen downwards, to merely providing good pain relief after an operation.
The Process
This injection can be performed with you either awake, sedated or under general anaesthetic. Your doctor will clean your skin with an antiseptic, and will usually press gently over your hips to identify the correct location (in the centre of your back) at which to perform the injection.​
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Local anaesthetic may be injected into the skin around this area if you are awake. Your doctor will then pass a very fine needle into the fluid around your spinal cord, and inject the intended medications here. The effect of the injected medications will often be assessed by checking your sensation to cold, often with a block of ice.
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Depending on the type, strength and amount of local anaesthetic injected and the addition of other medications (for example a strong painkiller), the spinal anaesthetic may last from several hours to around 24 hours. As the spinal anaesthetic wears off you will often experience 'pins and needles' in the legs for a short time.
Risks
Almost all medical care and procedures carry some degree of risk of something not going according to plan, and it's important to be aware of this beforehand. Your anaesthetist is always best placed to provide information about the risks of anaesthesia specific to you and your upcoming surgery. The risks listed here are generic and not tailored to you and your circumstances. There are also multiple other less frequently encountered side effects/complications which are not listed here, to avoid providing an overwhelming list.
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1. Failure of the spinal anaesthetic. Normally this block works well, but on occasion has little or no effect
2. Nerve damage. Very rarely either temporary or permanent nerve damage to the spinal cord or nerves in the back.
3. Infection resulting from this injection is incredibly rare but can be serious if it occurs
4. Bleeding resulting from this injection is rare but can be serious if it occurs
5. Headache is rare but can occur if fluid that should be around the spinal cord leaks out. Sometimes a further injection in the back is required to treat this
6. Low blood pressure is very common after spinal anaesthesia, but is usually easily treated
7. Itching and shivering is common after spinal anaesthesia, but is usually transient and not concerning
8. Loss of bladder control is common and usually resolves within hours. Sometimes a urinary catheter is required, however
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