Spinal block
In this procedure, a
drug or anesthetic such as fentanyl, bupivacaine, or lidocaine is injected
under the spine directly into the cerebrospinal fluid, which relieves pain for
2 hours.
It is easy to confuse
a spinal block with a spinal epidural because both are injections into the
spinal area. In a spinal block, a drug or anesthetic is injected once with a
needle. In spinal epidural anesthesia or combined epidural anesthesia, a
catheter is inserted into the epidural space to provide permanent anesthesia.
Spinal blocks are not
widely used today due to the preference for epidural anesthesia. However, they
can be used for more difficult births or caesarean sections.
What you need to know about spinal blockade
Spinal blockade can
cause one or more of the following conditions:
- Hypotension (low blood pressure)
- Difficulty pushing during the second stage of labor
- Severe headache requiring an epidural blood patch
- Dizziness
- Pruritus (itching)
- In rare instances, convulsions
- Both narcotics and “caine” medications cross the placenta and enter the baby’s bloodstream
- Baby might have trouble breastfeeding after birth