Spinals and epidurals (exam 4) Flashcards
The lamina of S5 is ________ and bridged _____
incomplete and bridged only by ligaments
Sacral hiatus correlates with
s5
Conus medullaris spinal level (adult and infant)
Adult: L1-L2
Infant: L3
Dural sac spinal level adult and peds
adult: S2
Infant: S3
Cauda Equina area
Bundle of spinal nerves from clonus to dural sac
Two fixation points of filum terminale
conus medullaris and Coccyx
Supra spinous ligament role
Joins tips of spinous processes (posterior)
Interspinous ligament location
adjacent to spinous process
Ligamentaum flavum is thickest in the
Lumbar region
CSF circulates between
pia and arachnoid mater layers
Nerves responsible for touch (3)
-A beta
-A delta
-C dorsal root
Nerves responsible for temperature (2)
-A delta
-C dorsal root
Sensory, Visceral and Somatic/pain afferents are transmitted through the
posterior (dorsal) root
Autonomic and motor nerve efferents are transmitted through the
anterior (ventral) root
Vertebra prominence is at
C7
Spine of scapula is at
T3
Inferior angle of scapula is at
T7
Rib margin is at
10 cm from midline L1
Superior aspect of illiac crest is at
L4
Posterior Superior illiac spine is at
S2
Intercristal or Tuffier line is
S1 at the level of posterior illiac crest
apex L4?
cauda equina nerve bundle
roots L2-S5 pairs and coccygeal nerve
Dural sac is the
termination of the subarachnoid space
Best place for a block
lower = lowest incidence of injuring spinal cord by direct needle trauma
Midline approach - go thourgh:
supraspinous ligament –> interspinous ligament –> ligamentum flavum
Taylor’s approach is the technique for locating
the L5-S1 space
Midline approach: average depth from skin to epidural space is
3-5 cm (in adult)
Taylor’s approach aka
paramedian approach
Taylors Approach needle insertion direction:
Upward and medially
Caudal anesthesia location
up to a T10 sensory block
Caudal anesthesia is common in
pediatrics
Caudal anesthesia uses (5)
- circumcision
- hypospadias
- anal
- inguinal herniorrhapthy
- Low thoracic surgery
Caudal block landmarks:
Posterior iliac spine
Sacral hiatus
In caudal anesthesia, you should not
use air for LOR (loss of resistance)
When using chlorohexadine for an epidural
wait full 30 seconds to dry because chlorohex is nuerotoxic
Spinal needle with highest incidence of spinal HA
cutting needle
Average thread of an epidural catheter into epidural space
3-5
If you go too deep with an epidural, it may
enter an epidural vein or exit through intervertebral foramen
blood black = vein
Pros of cutting tip needle
Requires less force
Cons of cutting needle
Higher risk of PDPH
Pros of non-cutting tip needle
Less likely to injure cauda equina
1st digit (thumb) spinal nerve root correlation
C6
2-3 digits (pointer, middle) spinal nerve root correlation
C7
4-5 digits (ring, pinky) spinal nerve root correlation
C8
Xiphoid process spinal nerve root correlation
T6
Umbilicus spinal nerve root correlation
T10
Pubic symphysis nerve root correlation
T12
Anterior knee nerve root correlation
L4
Vaginal delivery sensory level block required at
T10
Lower extremity surgical block level
L1-L3
C section surgical block level
T4
THA (total hip arthroplasty) surgical block level
T10
TURP surgical block level
T10