Regional Anesthesia Flashcards
What layers does your needle travel through for epidural and spinal blocks?
Skin, subcutaneous tissue, supraspinous ligament, interspinous ligament, ligamentum flavum, epidural space (destination of epidural blocks), dura, subdural space, arachnoid, subarachnoid space (destination of spinal block).. Pia mater is the innermost layer, we do not go that far in blocks though
What space is occupied with CSF?
subarachnoid space
Dermatomes: what landmark is T4, T6, T8, and T10?
T4 nipple
T6 xiphoid
T8 last rib
T10 umbilicus
Dermatome: which nerve innervates the hand (multiple nerves, which part of the hand). If the pt starts feeling numbness/tingling of the hand during spinal/epidural, what interventions should be done?
pinky: C8
middle finger: C7
Index, thumb: C6
If the pt starts to feel numbness/tingling here, put pt in reverse trendelenberg
When doing a spinal, you hope to block which nerves?
Not above T1, when the block starts to spread to fingers, it can continue to spread to phrenic nerve (C3-C5) then the patient may loose ability to breathe on their own (“total spinal”)
CSF: How much of it is in the subarachnoid space? What is its specific gravity?
150 mL
1.004-1.008
It is expected that sensory, motor, and autonomic functioning will be blocked during spinal/epidural. What is the consequence of blocking autonomic functions in a spinal vs. epidural (on the heart)?
Epidural: BP will drop within 8 min
Spinal: BP will drop within 1 min, more profound
Along with BP dropping, C.O. drops 10% (give bolus before procedure), HR drops and SVR drops
Contraindications to regional blocks
Pt refusal, infection/cyst at injection site, increased ICP (for spinal), clotting defects/anticoags, hemorrhaging/hypovolemia, CNS disease/meningitis (for spinal), inability to remain still, bacteremia/septicemia, nerve damage/palsy (for peripheral)
Side effects of neuroaxial drugs (due to autonomic block)
MAP, HR, C.O., SVR decrease
hyperparistalsis, urinary retention, N/V
If high block, respiratory effects (phrenic nerve)
Blocks stress response, shivering
Sprotte vs. Quincke vs. Whitacre spinal needles, what size needle?
25g needle
Sprotte/ Whitacre are pencil point, more tip strength, feel “pop” when entering the dura
Quincke is cutting, make sure bevel to the side, less likely to feel “pop”, increased risk of postdural headache
Landmarks for spinal/epidural block
ileac crest and L4 vertebrae is palpated
Spinal block procedure order: Midline approach
- identify landmarks, 2. sterile field, prep solution, 3. fenestrated drape, wipe iodine away with sterile gauze, 4. skin wheal with 25g needle, 5. advance 17g introducer angled cephalad, stop in interspinous ligament, advance selected needle through ligamentum flavum, feel “pop”, 6. through dura to subarachnoid space, 7. aspirate CSF (confirm by rotating 90 degrees x4) 8. inject drug, pull out needle
What is an epidural headache, why does it occur? Treatment?
If dura is punctured, CSF can leak for a day, give pt extra fluids, bedrest
Epidural Blood Patch can be done, give pt 10-20 mL of their blood (IV) back into CSF
What is the Touhy needle used for?
Epidural placement, catheterized needle with markings every sonometer
What is the LOR technique
LOR: loss of resistance technique for correct epidural placement, when needle hits ligamentum flavum, stylet is removed and syringe with air is tapped and slowly advanced until a sudden loss of resistance
After getting the epidural in the correct location, how is the catheter placed?
Advance catheter 2-3 cm into epidural space
Advance catheter 4-6 cm into the epidural space in parturients (pregnant women)
Baracity of local anesthetic drugs with CSF: Hyperbaric, hypobaric, isobaric
Hyperbaric solution: has higher specific gravity, like dextrose, solution will “sink” and block lower
Hypobaric solution: has lower specific gravity, like sterile water, solution will “rise” and block higher
Isobaric solution: specific gravity 1.004-1.008, mix with CSF
Indications for caudal blocks
pediatric patients post op pain, landmark is sacral hiatus
Epidural Hematoma is a rare complication, what must be done if this occurs and what are signs/symptoms?
Weak/numbness in lower extremeties, neurosurgery consult immediately, usually caused by coagulation defect (LMWH must be held 12 hours before and 12 hours after surgery)
Risks of peripheral nerve blocks
LA (local anesthetic) toxicity, permanent nerve damage (from toxicity, usually nerve will repair), allergic response, incomplete blocks (convert to general), discomfort of positioning
2 classes of local anesthetics
esters: (one eyed ester, has one “i”) metabolized by cholinesterase, more likely to have allergic reaction
amides: metabolized by hepatic processes
Rate of absorption from max to min for nerve blocks
Intercostals, caudal, epidural, brachial plexus, sciatic, lumbar plexus, femoral
Signs of local anesthetic toxicity
- CNS toxicity: tongue numb, lightheaded, dizzy, tinnitus, disoriented, seizures, then CNS depression
- respiratory depression and arrest
- CV instability
Sciatic nerve block, which roots, where does this block
L4-S3, blocks posterior leg, foot, and below the knee