Epidural Anesthesia
Spinal Anesthesia and Epidural Anesthesia
Spinal anesthesia and epidural anesthesia are methods of numbing the body before a medical procedure. They are done by injecting numbing medicine (anesthetic) into the back, near the spinal cord.
Spinal anesthesia is usually done to numb an area at and below the place where the injection is made. It is often used during surgeries of the pelvis, hips, legs, and lower abdomen. It begins to work almost immediately. Epidural anesthesia may be done to numb an area above or below the area where the injection is made. It is often used during childbirth and after major abdominal or chest surgery. It begins to work after 10–20 minutes.
LET YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER KNOW ABOUT:
Any allergies you have.
All medicines you are …show more content…
A needle will be inserted between the bones of your back. While this is being done.
Continue to breathe normally.
Stay as still and quiet as you can.
If you feel a tingling shock or pain going down your leg, tell your health care provider but try not to move.
The spinal or epidural anesthetic will be injected.
If you receive an epidural anesthetic and need more than one dose, a tiny, flexible tube (catheter) will be placed where the anesthetic was injected. Additional doses will be given through the catheter. If you need pain medicine after surgery, the catheter will be kept in place.
If an epidural catheter has not been placed in your injection site or left there, a small bandage (dressing) will be placed over the injection site.
AFTER THE PROCEDURE
You will need to stay in bed until it is safe for you to walk.
Your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and blood oxygen level will be monitored often until the medicines you were given have worn off.
If you have a catheter, it will be removed when it is no longer
Spinal anesthesia and epidural anesthesia are methods of numbing the body before a medical procedure. They are done by injecting numbing medicine (anesthetic) into the back, near the spinal cord.
Spinal anesthesia is usually done to numb an area at and below the place where the injection is made. It is often used during surgeries of the pelvis, hips, legs, and lower abdomen. It begins to work almost immediately. Epidural anesthesia may be done to numb an area above or below the area where the injection is made. It is often used during childbirth and after major abdominal or chest surgery. It begins to work after 10–20 minutes.
LET YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER KNOW ABOUT:
Any allergies you have.
All medicines you are …show more content…
A needle will be inserted between the bones of your back. While this is being done.
Continue to breathe normally.
Stay as still and quiet as you can.
If you feel a tingling shock or pain going down your leg, tell your health care provider but try not to move.
The spinal or epidural anesthetic will be injected.
If you receive an epidural anesthetic and need more than one dose, a tiny, flexible tube (catheter) will be placed where the anesthetic was injected. Additional doses will be given through the catheter. If you need pain medicine after surgery, the catheter will be kept in place.
If an epidural catheter has not been placed in your injection site or left there, a small bandage (dressing) will be placed over the injection site.
AFTER THE PROCEDURE
You will need to stay in bed until it is safe for you to walk.
Your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and blood oxygen level will be monitored often until the medicines you were given have worn off.
If you have a catheter, it will be removed when it is no longer