Mod3: Spinal Anesthesia Part 1 Flashcards
Which anesthesia technique involves an injection of a medication into the subarachnoid space which mixes with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), creating anesthesia in a portion of the body?
Spinal Anesthesia
SPINAL ANESTHESIA
Spinal anesthesia is also known as:
Neuraxial anesthesia
Subarachnoid block (SAB)
Intrathecal injection
SPINAL ANESTHESIA
How can surgical anesthesia from spinal anesthesia be characterized?
Rapid, Dense, Predictable
SPINAL ANESTHESIA
Which regions of the body can be anesthetized w/ spinal anesthesia?
From the upper abdomen to feet
SPINAL ANESTHESIA
A catheter can be inserted into the subarachnoid space to extend the duration of the block. This is known as
Continuous spinal
This is usually not done
SPINAL ANESTHESIA
T/F: SAB is riskier then GA for the “average patient”
False
SAB is no more or less riskier then GA for the “average patient”
SPINAL ANESTHESIA - INDICATIONS
T/F: There are No absolute indications for a spinal
True
SPINAL ANESTHESIA - INDICATIONS
Spinal anesthesia is usually indicated for operations usually below which body structure?
The umbilicus
Nipple line dermatome level is T4
Umbilicus dermatome level is T10
SPINAL ANESTHESIA - INDICATIONS
Operations below the umbilicus for which spinal anesthesia is indicated include:
Cesarean section
Hernias
TURP (transurethral resection of prostate)
Hip replacements
Lower extremity surgery
SPINAL ANESTHESIA - INDICATIONS
Beside being indicated for operations below the umbilicus, spinal anesthesia may be advantageous for which patient populations?
COPD or other respiratory diseases
Cardiac disease (±)
Potential difficult airway (controversial)
Parturients
(d/t inc. risk of difficult airway; allows mom baby interactions)
SPINAL ANESTHESIA - INDICATIONS
Why is using spinal anesthesia for potential difficult airway controversial?
?!!!
SPINAL ANESTHESIA - INDICATIONS
Why is using spinal anesthesia for Parturients advantageous?
Parturients have an inc. risk of difficult airway
spinal anesthesia allows mom baby interactions
SPINAL ANESTHESIA - ADVANTAGES
What are advantages of spinal anesthesia?
Increase Patient satisfaction
Rapid recovery - Absence of side effects
Don’t have to manipulate the airway
Avoid risks of GA in high-risk surgical pts. (COPD, CAD?)
Dec. incidence of DVT, blood loss, and PE’s (in hip replacement)
Decreased stress response (SNS blockade)
Decreased PONV
Decrease exposure to meds
Monitoring mental status
(Easier to catch changes in mental status in procedures like TURP that are a/w hyponatremia)
SPINAL ANESTHESIA - DISADVANTAGES
May take longer than induction, why?
Potentially difficult technique
SPINAL ANESTHESIA - DISADVANTAGES
Hypotension due to?
Sympathectomy from LA
SPINAL ANESTHESIA - DISADVANTAGES
Patient usually awake; why is that a disadvantage?
It may not be suited for the patient to be “awake”
Surgeon uncomfortable with “awake” patient
SPINAL ANESTHESIA - DISADVANTAGES
Unknown or extended surgical duration, why?
?…
SPINAL ANESTHESIA - DISADVANTAGES
Unexpected surgical delay, why?
Takes time to achieve a good “block”
Is the block successfull?
Is the block holding on, and for how long?
SPINAL ANESTHESIA - DISADVANTAGES
Urinary retention, why?
Postoperative urinary retention (POUR) is common after anesthesia and surgery.
Spinal anesthetics bupivacaine and tetracaine delay the return of bladder function beyond the resolution of sensory anesthesia, and may lead to distention of thebladder beyond its normal functioning capacity.
SPINAL ANESTHESIA - DISADVANTAGES
In which clinical situations is spinal anesthesia not recommended? why not?
Emergency / trauma situations
Will delay surgical procedure
Spinal Anesthesia: Contraindications
According to the New York Society of Regional Anesthesia, what are absolute contraindications to spinal anesthesia?
Patient refusal / uncooperative patient
Uncorrected coagulopathies or thrombocytopenia
Infection at site of injection
Hypovolemia
Increased ICP
Indeterminate neurologic disease
Spinal Anesthesia: Contraindications
According to the New York Society of Regional Anesthesia, what are relative contraindications to spinal anesthesia?
Septicemia
Shock
Lumbar spine surgery, injury or disease
Unknown duration of surgery
Spinal Anesthesia: Anatomy Review
What is the initial landmark that must be palpated before initiation of spinal anesthesia?
The spinous process
Spinal Anesthesia: Anatomy Review
How do you know you have access the Epidural space?
After the ligamentum of flavum and before the dura and arachnoide, you will feel the characteristic “poop” that will take you into the Epidural space
Spinal Anesthesia: Anatomy Review
What’s the midline spinal neddle path from skin to Subarachnoid space (CSF)?
Skin
SQ fat
Supraspinous ligament
Interspinous ligament
Ligamentum flavum
Epidural space
Dura mater
Subdural space (potential space)
Arachnoid mater
Subarachnoid space (CSF)
Spinal Anesthesia: Patient preparation
T/F: Before spinal anesthesia, you must ensure that all other anesthetic options have been discussed with pt
True
Spinal Anesthesia: Patient preparation
Complications - inform pt. of:
Potential risks and complications
Spinal Anesthesia: Patient preparation
Educate pt. on procedure - Explain which aspects of the procedure?
Positioning
Sensations
Side Effects
Spinal Anesthesia: Patient preparation
Educate pt. on procedure - Explain that spinal anesthesia blocks painful sensations, but may not block which sensations?
Pressure & Movement
Spinal Anesthesia: Patient preparation
Educate pt. on procedure - Explain to patient that they may experience Odd sensation when legs / lower abdomen become numb
True
Why is that?
Spinal Anesthesia: Patient preparation
Answer all pt’s questions and clear up misconceptions
True
Common sense
Spinal Anesthesia: Patient preparation
T/F
Ensure pt. is comfortable and willing to cooperate with anesthetic technique chosen
True
<em>Common sense</em>
Spinal Anesthesia: Patient preparation
T/F
Ensure Informed Consent is signed
True
Standard of Practice
Spinal Anesthesia: Patient preparation
Ensure pt has at least how many well functioning IVs?
one
Spinal Anesthesia: Patient preparation
Which type of fluid solution should you pre-load the pt w/? How much?
Isotonic crystalloid solution
15 ml/kg
Spinal Anesthesia: Patient preparation
Pre-load w/ isotonic crystalloid solution - How much for high block?
1000 ml
Spinal Anesthesia: Patient preparation
Pre-load w/ isotonic crystalloid solution - How much for C-sections?
1500 ml
Spinal Anesthesia: Patient preparation
Pre-load w/ isotonic crystalloid solution - Be careful if CHF risk, why?
Too much fluid will exacerbate CHF
Spinal Anesthesia: Patient preparation
Pre-load w/ isotonic crystalloid solution - Does not prevent hypotension, why not?
?…
Spinal Anesthesia: Patient preparation
Place monitors; at a minimum which monitors do you need?
Pulse-ox
ECG
NIBP
O2 (if indicated)
Spinal Anesthesia: Patient preparation
Which Pre-medication or alternative could be used for pre-op anxiety?
Verbal encouragement
Pharmacy
Spinal Anesthesia: Patient preparation
Why should pharmacologic agents to relieve anxiety be used with caution in spinal anesthesia?
To maintain patient cooperation
Spinal Anesthesia: Patient preparation
T/F: No sedation in L&D w/ spinal anesthesia
True
Mother’s cooperation needed
Spinal Anesthesia: Patient Positioning
What is the favorable position for spinal anesthesia? why?
Sitting
Make then arch before they “lean forward”
Back arched (“like a mad cat”) for maximum flexion of lumbar spine
Spinal Anesthesia: Sitting Positioning
T/F:
Back arched (“like a mad cat”) for maximum flexion of lumbar spine, NOT LEANING FORWARD
True
Spinal Anesthesia: Sitting Positioning
Where would you make them sit?
Usually on side of OR table
Spinal Anesthesia: Sitting Positioning
Where are the legs and feet placed?
Legs dangling with feet on stool or chair
Spinal Anesthesia: Sitting Positioning
Where are the Forearms placed?
Crossed laying over pillow or on Mayo stand
Spinal Anesthesia: Lateral Decubitus
In the Lateral Decubitus position, how are Hips and knees placed? why?
Hips and knees maximally flexed
This Fetal position is used to open vertebral interspace
Spinal Anesthesia: Lateral Decubitus
In this position how are the Shoulders and knees placed in reference to the bed?
Shoulders and knees perpendicular to bed
Spinal Anesthesia: Lateral Decubitus
Which is more challenging between sitting vs Lateral Decubitus positions?
Lateral Decubitus position is more challenging
Spinal Anesthesia: Lateral Decubitus
Since the Lateral Decubitus position is more challenging than the sitting position, why is it used if at all?
It is used when patient can not get into the sitting position
Spinal Anesthesia: Prone Jack Knife position
Why would the Prone Jack Knife position be used?
Only if position to be used for surgery
Spinal Anesthesia: Prone Jack Knife position
For which type of block, utilizing a LA with which baricity, and for which type of surgery would this position be used?
Sacral block with hypobaric LA for perineal surgery
Spinal Anesthesia: Prone Jack Knife position
T/F
Will see free flow of CSF from spinal needle with this position
False
Will not see free flow of CSF from spinal needle
Spinal Anesthesia: Needles
The most important characteristics of spinal needles are:
Shape of the tip
Needle diameter
Spinal Anesthesia: Needles
Needle tip shapes that cut the dura include:
Pitkin
or
Quincke-Babcock needle
Short beveled-cutting edge (Quincke/Greene)
Spinal Anesthesia: Needles
Needle tip shapes with conical or pencil-point tip include:
Whitacre and Sprotte needles