Regional anaesthesia

This technique makes it so that a certain part of your body will not feel pain.

By injecting anaesthetic in around the nervee bundles that are responsible for sensation for a certain part of the body, the nerve bundles are temporarily deactivated. Since no more pain signals are sent to the brain, you will not experience any pain. The mobility of that body part is also usually reduced. The term ‘nerve block’ is commonly used for this procedure.

The main advantages of this type of anaesthesia include:

The patient being able to choose between staying awake or undergoing mild general anaesthesia

Achieving excellent pain relief during as well as after the procedure

Avoiding side effects from general anaesthesia (fatigue, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, etc.)

Every type of anaesthesia, including nerve blocks, has possible complications (e.g. nerve damage). This is very rare, however, considering that the utmost preventative measures are followed (with the use of ultrasound, pressure sensors and nerve stimulation). It is important to indicate when this anaesthesia starts to wear off after the procedure so that another pain medication can be administered in time.

The most frequently administered nerve blocks in our hospital can be divided into two groups:

• Spinal anaesthesia or epidural anaesthesia
• Anaesthesia for the birthing process or a caesarean section
• Anaesthesia for a total knee or hip replacement

Depending on the type of surgical procedure to be performed, the anaesthesiologist will determine whether anaesthetic or an analgaesic block is most beneficial.

• An anaesthetic local-regional block numbs the entire surgical area. The extremity will be temporarily ‘paralysed’ and will lose feeling and strength in the numbed region. This type of anaesthesia is often used for hand and arm surgery.
• An analgaesic local-regional block, which provides extra comfort through local pain relief, is usually combined with general anaesthesia. As a result, the administration of strong pain medication in the recovery room may be avoided. Reduced sensation, which can arise after injecting local pain medication, may persist for up to five days.
  
  This type of anaesthesia is often used for:
  - Extensive foot/lower leg surgery
  - Shoulder surgery

• Be sure to support the operated arm or leg (e.g. do not let it hang down).
• Avoid direct contact with surfaces that are either hot (e.g. a stove or radiator) or very cold.
• Do not place any hard objects underneath or on top of your arm or leg.
• Do not sleep on the side that was operated. Pressure on the numbed extremity may cause nerve damage.

Local-regional anaesthesia can reduce the time spent in the recovery room as well as the length of the hospital stay, but always with the patient's comfort as the utmost concern.

Latest publication date: 11/01/2024
Supervising author: Dr Vanoverschelde Henk