Techniques in Regional Anesthesia & Pain Management

Regional anesthesia is used to render a specific portion of the body numb to any type of surgical stimuli or pain. While general anesthesia puts you in a state of deep sleep, during regional anesthesia you are awake and a certain area of your body is completely numb. Pain management is accomplished by administering medication via an IV (intravenous therapy). Together, regional anesthesia and pain management allow you to undergo surgery comfortably, while remaining awake.

Regional Anesthesia Techniques

• Regional anesthesia is administered near the nerves that provide sensation to the select area of your body that surgery will be performed on. Regional anesthesia is administered using a spinal block, an epidural block or a peripheral nerve block. A spinal block involves the injection of medication near the nerves, while an epidural block requires that a very thin catheter is placed in the epidural space near the spinal cord. The catheter remains in place during surgery, and medications are administered as needed. A peripheral nerve block is performed by providing medication to an area near the surgery site.

  You remain awake during surgery, though you may be given an anti-anxiety medication or sedative to help you relax. Your anesthesiologist will choose the right sedative based upon the type of surgery taking place and your own preferences. Minimal sedation will be chosen if you would like to be relaxed, but remain awake. Moderate sedation will make you feel drowsy, but may not necessarily facilitate sleep. Deep sedation, however, enables you to sleep through the entire procedure. You may wake up after deep sedation and have little to no memory of the procedure or of even being in the operating room.

  Your vital signs will be monitored during the usage of any type of regional anesthesia. Your anesthesiologist and nurse will keep an eye on your heart rate, oxygen level and blood pressure, and you may receive supplemental oxygen during surgery.

Pain Management Techniques

• Pain management is an integral part of surgery and post-operative care. Pain relief will be discussed prior to surgery. It is often administered during the procedure, before the anesthesia and analgesics have a chance to wear off.

  Pain relief is provided intravenously through a direct injection into or near the surgical site, via a regional block or through the use of oral medications. Intravenous pain management is often preferred because of the ease of administering. Pain management done through an IV will not eliminate all pain, but it will dull it enough so that you are comfortable. The direct injection of local anesthetics will completely eliminate pain by creating numbness or a loss of sensation to the area. Regional blocks reduce post-operative pain by providing anesthesia or analgesia to the surgical area.