Which of the following is true about spinal anesthesia?
Ans. is 'b' i.e., Anesthesia is injected in subarachnoid space * In spinal anesthesia LA is injected into subarachnoid space (space between pia matter and arachnoid matter).* Structure pierced during SA (from outside in) - Skin - subcutaneous tissue - Supraspinous & intraspinous ligament - Ligamentum falvum - Durameter - Arachnoid matter.* Site of spinal anesthesia is L2-3 or L3-4 intervertebral space in adult (In adult spinal cord ends at lower border of Llvertebrae). In children it is L4-5 intervertebral space (spinal cord ends at lower border L3 vertebrae in children).* Spinal anesthesia leads to creation of a zone of differential blockade, i.e., motor fibres are blocked two levels lower and autonomic fibers are blocked two levels higher than the sensory blockade due to different sensitivity of different fibers.* High spinal (Total spinal) anesthesia: - It occurs when the effect of spinal anesthesia ascends to higher (cervical) levels. It can also occur following attempted epidural/caudal anesthesia if there is inadvertent intrathecal injection. It causes severe hypotension, bradycardia and respiratory insufficiency with loss of consciousness.About other options* Hypotension is the most common complication of spinal anesthesia.* The onset of analgesia is approximately 15-30 minutes in an epidural, while it is approximately 5 minutes in spinal anesthesia.
Onset of analgesia takes about 15 minutes
Anesthesia is injected in subarachnoid space
Most common complication is PDPH
May lead to intra-operative tachycardia
Local and Regional Anesthesia