Regional anesthesia is a technique that induces loss of sensation in part of the body using local anesthetics. It has benefits like lower costs, high patient satisfaction, and decreased risks of DVT and PE compared to general anesthesia. However, it requires skills and may cause issues like hypotension. The main types are topical, intravenous, peripheral nerve blocks, plexus blocks, and neuro-axial blocks. Regional anesthesia can provide anesthesia for surgery, post-op analgesia, or chronic pain treatment. Factors like the anesthetic used, patient position, and injection speed affect its spread. Spinal and epidural blocks involve injecting anesthetic into the subarachnoid or epidural space and have risks like anaphyl

1. Regional AnesthesiaRegional Anesthesia
Amina Adel Al-QaysiAmina Adel Al-Qaysi
RAK Medical & Health SciencesRAK Medical & Health Sciences
UniversityUniversity

2. DefinitionDefinition
Any technique to induce the absence of
sensation in part of the body

3. Why Regional Anaesthesia?Why Regional Anaesthesia?
• Cheap
• High Patient Satisfaction
• Maintain Patent Airway
• Decreased Blood Loss
• Selective Muscle Relaxation
• Decreased Incidence
of DVT & PE

4. Why Not Regional AnaesthesiaWhy Not Regional Anaesthesia
• Hypotension
• Risk of toxicity
• Many patients prefer to be asleep
• Skills are required
• Patient Can Talk
• Patient Anxiety
• Not Reliable for Surgery > 2 hours

5. Regional anesthesia - TypesRegional anesthesia - Types
• Topical
• Intravenous (Bier’s) block
• Peripheral nerve block
• Plexus: brachial, lumbar
• Neuro-axial block

6. Regional anesthesia - UsesRegional anesthesia - Uses
• Provide anesthesia for a surgical
procedure.
• Provide analgesia post-operatively or
during labor and delivery.
• Therapy for patients with chronic pain
syndromes, cancer.

7. Spread of Local AnaesthesiaSpread of Local Anaesthesia
• Baricity of Local Anaesthetic
• Concentration of Local Anaesthetic
• Position of Patient
• Volume Injected
• Level of Injection
• Speed of Injection

8. Neuro-axial BlockNeuro-axial Block
• Spinal block
• Epidural block
• Caudal block

9. Spinal & EpiduralSpinal & Epidural
AnaesthesiaAnaesthesia
• Local anesthetic injected into the
subarachnoid or epidural space.
• Patient’s position: Sitting, Lateral.
• Approach: Midline, Para-median
• Heavy Marcaine

10. Pre-Procedure PreparationPre-Procedure Preparation
• Patient’s assessment
• Explain the procedure & Obtain consent
• Patient is fasting
• Equipments for resuscitation & GA
• IV line insertion & start fluid load
• Ensure the asepsis.

15. Absolute ContraindicationsAbsolute Contraindications
• Patient’s refusal
• Coagulopathy
• Skin infection at site of insertion
• Increased ICP
• Hypovolemia

16. Relative ContraindicationsRelative Contraindications
• Uncooperative patient.
• Pre-existing neurological disorder.
• Fixed cardiac output states (AS, MS,
HOCM, 3rd
degree heart block).
• Anatomic abnormalities.
• Prophylactic low dose heparin use.

17. Complications of EpiduralComplications of Epidural
AnesthesiaAnesthesia
• Anaphylaxis
• Pain
• Post-spinal headache
• Hypotension & Bradycardia
• Hypothermia
• Nerve damage
• Respiratory failure
• Epidural or intra-thecal bleed
• Spinal cord hematoma
• Infection
• Urinary retention