Like any operation, caesarean section involves the use of anesthesia. Today, the development of medicine has made it possible for a woman to be conscious during the operation and see the baby immediately after birth. This is due to a caesarean section under local anesthesia.
How is spinal anesthesia done at caesarean section?
For the introduction of spinal anesthesia in cesarean section, the expectant mother is asked to lie on her side in the embryo position or sit up, arched her back arched. The main thing is to maximally bend the spine. A small part of the back in the lumbar region is treated with an antiseptic solution, then the doctor introduces a very thin needle into the intervertebral space. In this case, the dura mater is pierced, and the anesthetic is injected into the cerebrospinal fluid. After 5-10 minutes, the future mother, as a rule, no longer feels the lower part of the trunk and legs - you can begin the operation.
Contraindications to spinal anesthesia in cesarean section
Local anesthesia with caesarean section is not performed in the following cases:
- decreased blood volume;
- a violation of blood coagulation or the admission of a future mother of anticoagulants;
- infection at the puncture site;
- increased intracranial pressure, CNS diseases;
- allergy to anesthetics;
- heart rhythm disturbances;
- hypoxia of the fetus .
Spinal anesthesia with caesarean section - pros and cons
Spinal anesthesia with caesarean section is considered one of the safest methods of anesthesia. Among the advantages of this method doctors distinguish the following:
- an excellent analgesic effect (the drug acts on the spinal cord, and not on the nerves);
- the speed of anesthetic;
- ease of implementation (the doctor accurately determines the depth of needle insertion);
- absence of systemic toxicity (anesthetic is administered in a very small dose).
This method has its drawbacks:
- limited duration (approximately 2 hours), although for cesarean with spinal anesthesia this is sufficient;
- a sharp decrease in blood pressure - as a consequence of dizziness and nausea;
- post-puncture headaches can last for months - are associated with partial loss of cerebrospinal fluid and impaired intracranial pressure;
- neurological complications (chemical or bacterial meningitis, spinal cord injury with the introduction of a catheter for prolonged spinal anesthesia).