Exam 1 Spinal & Epidural Neuraxial Anesthesia [06/04/24] Flashcards
What are the common causes of unilateral epidural blocks?
- The catheter may have been inserted too far, exiting the epidural space through intervertebral foramen.
- The catheter tip might be too close to a nerve
S99
What are the solutions for unilateral epidural blocks?
- Adjust the Catheter: Pull the catheter slightly, about 1-2 cm, but ensure at least 3 cm remains in the epidural space.
- Reposition the Patient: Lateral Decubitus Position: Lay the patient on their side with the side not feeling numb facing downwards.
- Administer More Anesthetic: Dilute Anesthetic: Inject a diluted local anesthetic to try to even out the block.
- Catheter Replacement: If adjustments and additional anesthetic don’t resolve the issue, the catheter may need to be replaced.
S99
- What is the most common cause of Local Anesthetic Systemic Toxicity [LAST]
- most frequent symptom?
- What is it common in?
- most common cause of Local Anesthetic Systemic Toxicity [LAST]: inadvertent injection
- most frequent symptom: seizure. Yet, with bupivacaine, cardiac arrest may come first before seizure.
- LAST is more common in peripheral nerve blocks than in epidural.
S100
CNS effect of Lidocaine toxicity:
* 1-5 mcg/ml
* 5-10 mcg/ml
* 10-15 mcg/ml
* 15-25 mcg/ml
- 1-5: analgesia
- 5-10: tinnitus, skeletal muscle twitching, numbness of lips/tongue
- 10-15: seizures, loss of conciousness
- 15-25: coma
S100
Cardiopulmonary effect of Lidocaine toxicity:
- 5-10 mcg/ml
- 15-25 mcg/ml
- > 25 mcg/ml
- 5-10: hypotension, myocardial depression
- 15-25: respiratory arrest
- > 25: cardiovascular collapse
S100
Risk of CNS toxicity with LAST increases with?
Hypercarbia:
* Increases cerebral perfusion, increasing drug delivery to the brain
* Decreases protein binding, increasing the free fraction of LA available to enter the brain
Hyperkalemia
* Neurons are more excitable and likely to depolarize
Metabolic Acidosis
* Lowers seizure threshold and increases brain drug retention (ion trapping).
S101
Risk of CNS toxicity with LAST decreases with?
Hypocarbia
* Decreases cerebral perfusion, reducing drug delivery to the brain
Hypokalemia’
* Neurons are less excitable and require larger stimuli to depolarize
CNS Depressants (like benzodiazepines and barbiturates)
* Raise the threshold for seizures, providing protection.
S101
What is the impact of LA on heart functions? [CV toxicity]
- Decrease the heart’s automaticity, conduction velocity, action potential duration, and the effective refractory period.
- Depress myocardium by affecting intracellular calcium regulation.
S101
What are the key factors in determining the extent of cardiotoxicity?
- LA affinity to the voltage-sodium channel in the active and inactive states.
- Rate of dissociation from the receptor during diastole
S101
What is the primary reason why cardiac morbidity is high with bupivacaine and resuscitation is very difficult?
- Bupivacaine has a high affinity to the voltage-sodium channel and a slower dissociation rate from the receptor during diastole.
S101
Difficulty of cardiac resuscitation [greatest to least]
- bupivacaine > levobupivacaine > ropivacaine > lidocaine
S101
List the treatments of LAST
- Manage the Airway: Give 100% oxygen
-
Treat Seizure:
-Use Benzodiazepines: These drugs help control seizures.
-Avoid Propofol: It can weaken the heart in large doses and doesn’t replace lipid therapy. - Modified ACLS
- Lipid emuslion therapy
S102
How do you modify ACLS for tx of LAST?
- Be cautious with Epinephrine: It can make LAST resuscitation harder and lower the effectiveness of lipid therapy.
- Use less than 1 mcg/kg.
- Use Amiodarone for ventricular arrhythmias
S102
How is lipid emulsion therapy given?
Over 70 kg:
* Start with a 100 mL bolus for 2-3 minutes
* followed by a 250 mL infusion over 15-20 minutes.
* Repeat or double if unstable.
Under 70 kg:
* Start with a 1.5 mL/kg bolus for 2-3 minutes
* followed by a 0.25 mL/kg/min infusion.
* Repeat or double if unstable.
* Continue the infusion until 15 minutes after stability is regained.
Maximum dose: 12 mL/kg.
If unresponsive to modified ACLS and lipid therapy, prepare for cardiopulmonary bypass
S102
Explain the MOA of lipid emulsion therapy?
* Lipid sink:
* Metabolic effect:
* Inotropic:
* Membrane effect:
- Lipid sink: Sequesters and reduces LA plasma concentration
- Metabolic effect: Boosts myocardial fatty acid metabolism; increases heart energy use.
- Inotropic: Increases heart muscle calcium levels by increasing calcium influx and intracellular calcium concentration
- Membrane effect: Impairs LA binding to voltage-sodium channel
S102
Once last is stable, what do you do?
- Continue lipid emulsion >15 min
- Max: 12 ml/kg
S103
LAST checklist
What meds do you avoid in LAST?
- local anesthetics
- beta blockers
- CCB
- vasopressin
S103
What are Epidural/Spinal Hematoma associated with?
- Preexisting abnormalities in clotting hemostasis
- Traumatic or difficult needle placement
- Indwelling catheters and long-term anticoagulation
Overall low incidence [1:200K]
S104
- Whare are the s/sx of epidural/spinal hematoma?
- If epidural/spinal hematoma occurs, how do you reverse cord ischemia?
- Why do we worry about this as CRNAs?
- Symptom of numbness/weakness confusing by the use of local anesthetics; Pain is a major symptom!!
- Laminectomy is performed in < 8 hours
- Large jury awards [among other things]
S104
105 and 108-116
- ____ is inflammation of meninges associated with what 3 things?
- What does arachnoiditis lead to?
- Arachnoiditis is inflamation of meninges
- Nonapproved administration of drug into intrathecal or epidural space (medical error)
- Using non-preservative free solutions
- Betadine contamination (wipe off)
- Leads to extensive sclerosis of arachnoid membranes and constriction of vascular supply
S105
- ASA (since 1990) make up what percent of nerve injury claims?
- spinal cord injury rates were higher than ____ injuries causing ____ nerve damage.
- This is caused by blocks done on ____ patients and ____ ____ patients.
- 19%
- positioning, ulnar
- anticoagulated and chronic pain
S105
- There were ____ deaths from cardiac related events after ____ anesthesia.
- anesthesia contributed to ____ % of those cases d/t undetected ____ ____ and ____ blockade
- 14, spinal
- 54%
- undetected respiratory compromise and sympathetic blockade
S105
- With EVERY neuraxial case we should be prepared to do ____.
- What problems might lead to us needing to do a general? (6)
GENERAL!
* Failed block
* “High spinal”
* LAST
* Anaphylaxis
* Severe CV collapse
* Case exceeds duration of local anesthetic
S108
What are 3 common reasons for failure of neuraxial anesthesia?
- wrong dose
- wrong location
- wrong position
S108
What are the common components to a spinal Kit?
- 3.5 inch, styleted needle (avoid microclots)
- Introducer
- Local anesthetic
- Skin (1% lidocaine -5ml glass vial)
- SAB (2 ml total)
- Baricity (Hyperbaric, Isobaric, or Hypobaric)
- Prep (Types: Chlorohexidine/Betadine)
- Sterile Drapes
- Needles (22 g or smaller (skin), 18 gauge, & filter needle)
- Sterile gloves, hats (both patient and you), and a mask for anesthesia provider
S111
Spinal needles consist of two parts: ____ and ____, which is what type of needle?
introducer and spinal needle which is a pencil point needle
S112
What are the 2 types of spinal needles?
Cutting and non-cutting
S113
Examples of cutting needles for spinals.
What are we at risk for with Cutting needles
- Quincke (25g) and Pitkin
- PDPH
S113