What is regional anesthesia?
Regional anesthesia is the use of medicines to block pain from an area of the body such as an arm or a leg or the belly. It's a safe way to relieve pain during a procedure. It's often used with medicines to relax you or make you fall asleep.
It can also help relieve pain after surgery. And it may reduce your need for other pain medicine after surgery.
This type of anesthesia can be used for many procedures. These include hand or foot surgeries. It may also be used for total joint replacements of the knee, hip, or shoulder. It may also be used during childbirth.
Regional anesthesia in children: When to call
Call 911 anytime you think your child may need emergency care. For example, call if:
- Your child has trouble breathing. Symptoms may include:
- Shortness of breath.
- Noisy breathing.
- Using the belly muscles to breathe.
- The chest sinking in or the nostrils flaring when your child struggles to breathe.
- Your baby is limp and floppy like a rag doll.
- Your child is very sleepy and is hard to wake up.
- Your child passes out (loses consciousness).
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
- Your child has new or worse nausea or vomiting.
- Your child has a fever.
- Your child has a new or worse headache.
- The medicine isn't wearing off by the time the doctor said it should.
- Your child has injured the numb area of their body.
- Your baby can't stop crying.
- Your baby won't eat within several hours after leaving the hospital.
Watch closely for changes in your child's health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
- Your child does not get better as expected.
What are the main types of regional anesthesia?
The main types are:
- Peripheral nerve blocks. This is a shot near a specific nerve or group of nerves. It blocks pain in the part of the body supplied by the nerve. This is often used for procedures on the hands, arms, feet, legs, or face.
- Epidural and spinal anesthesia. Medicine is given near the spinal cord and the nerves around it. It blocks pain from an entire area of the body. This may include the belly, hips, and legs.
- Intravenous (I.V.) regional anesthesia. This is also called a Bier block. It may be used instead of a peripheral nerve block for some procedures, such as for hand or wrist surgery.
How do you prepare for regional anesthesia?
You will get a list of instructions to help you prepare. Your anesthesia specialist will let you know what to expect when you get to the hospital, during the surgery, and after.
You'll be told when to stop eating and drinking.
If you take medicine, you'll be told what you can and can't take before surgery.
You'll be asked to sign a consent form. The form says that you know the risks of anesthesia. Before you sign, your specialist will talk with you. You'll discuss the best type for you. And you'll learn the risks and benefits of that type.
Many people are nervous before they have surgery. Ask your doctor about ways to relax before surgery.
How can you care for yourself after regional anesthesia?
- Follow all instructions from your doctor about how to take care of the area that was numbed.
- Be careful not to injure the area while it's still numb.
- If you move the area, move it slowly and carefully.
- Be careful with hot and cold. Since you won't feel pain, it's easier for damage from heat or cold to happen.
- If your doctor leaves a small tube in place to help you stay numb after your procedure, follow your doctor's instructions about how to use it and take care of it.
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