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Related Concept Videos

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Epidural Anesthesia01:29

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Epidural Anesthesia

Epidural anesthetics are administered in the fat-filled epidural space, the outermost part of the spinal canal. This technique is commonly employed for pain management and anesthesia during lower abdomen and pelvis surgeries or labor and delivery.
Since epidural anesthetics can be infused through an epidural catheter, all types of drugs, including short-acting ones, can be administered. Chloroprocaine and lidocaine are examples of short and long-duration anesthetics, respectively. Bupivacaine...
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Spinal Anesthesia01:11

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Spinal Anesthesia

Spinal anesthetics are given during lower abdomen and limb surgeries to block sensory and motor neurons. They are administered in the mid to low lumbar regions, primarily acting on the cauda equina's nerve roots. The blockade level depends on the local anesthetic (LA) concentration. Usually, low LA concentrations are sufficient to block sensory fibers, while only high LA concentrations block motor fibers. Other factors like injection volume and speed, the patient's posture, and the drug...
General Anesthesia: Overview01:24

General Anesthesia: Overview

Anesthesia is a medical procedure that uses drugs for CNS suppression to enable painless surgeries and procedures. The selection of anesthetics is influenced by their pharmacokinetic properties, side effects, and patient characteristics. Various types of anesthesia include general, local, regional, spinal, and inhalational.
General anesthesia induces unconsciousness in the whole body, while the others target specific areas or sensations. It is administered to minimize adverse effects, maintain...
Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview01:24

Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview

Intravenous anesthetics are drugs administered parenterally to induce anesthesia or sedation. Propofol is a widely used agent formulated as a 1% emulsion in soybean oil, glycerol, and egg phosphatide. It induces rapid anesthesia primarily due to its rapid distribution from the bloodstream to target tissues and is metabolized in the liver. However, it can cause significant pain on injection and hypertriglyceridemia. Fospropofol, a water-based prodrug of propofol, lacks these adverse effects.
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Intravenous Regional Anesthesia01:16

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Intravenous Regional Anesthesia

Intravenous regional anesthesia or the Bier block technique is used to anesthetize a specific limb or extremity. It uses exsanguinated or blood-drained vessels to transport local anesthetics or LAs to the peripheral nerve trunks. Lidocaine without vasoconstrictors like epinephrine is most commonly used for this technique. Other drugs used are prilocaine, ropivacaine, and chloroprocaine. Bupivacaine is not recommended for this technique due to its high cardiac toxicity.
One of the advantages of...
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Surface, Infiltration, and Conduction Block Anesthesia01:30

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Surface, Infiltration, and Conduction Block Anesthesia

Depending on the target organ, local anesthetics (LAs) can be administered via various routes. In surface anesthesia, LAs are applied directly to the surface of the skin or mucous membranes. It is widely used for topical skin numbing before venipuncture or minor surgical procedures. Commonly used surface local anesthetics are lidocaine or benzocaine sprays or creams. Surface anesthesia occurs within 5 minutes and lasts for about 60 minutes. One of the main disadvantages of topical anesthesia is...

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Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Spinal Sonography for Ultrasound-Guided Lumbar Neuraxial Anesthesia
03:14

Spinal Sonography for Ultrasound-Guided Lumbar Neuraxial Anesthesia

Published on: January 31, 2025

Obstetric anaesthesia in low-resource settings.

Robert A Dyer1, Anthony R Reed, Michael F James

  • 1Department of Anaesthesia, University of Cape Town, South Africa. robert.dyer@uct.ac.za <robert.dyer@uct.ac.za>

Best Practice & Research. Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology
|December 17, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Optimizing obstetric anesthesia care, especially in low-resource settings, is vital for reducing maternal and fetal mortality. Ensuring adequate skills, equipment, and protocols is essential for safe anesthesia practices and improved patient outcomes.

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Area of Science:

  • Obstetric Anesthesia
  • Maternal Healthcare
  • Low-Resource Settings

Background:

  • High maternal and fetal mortality rates underscore the critical need for improved obstetric anesthesia.
  • National audits reveal anesthesia-related factors contributing to maternal deaths.
  • Effective collaboration between obstetricians and anesthesia providers is paramount for patient safety.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the essential components for safe obstetric anesthesia practice.
  • To discuss strategies for improving obstetric anesthesia in resource-limited environments.
  • To provide guiding principles for labor analgesia, cesarean section anesthesia, and emergency management.

Main Methods:

  • Review of national audit findings on anesthesia-related maternal deaths.
  • Analysis of minimum requirements for safe obstetric anesthesia practice.
  • Discussion of outreach initiatives, educational resources, and financial considerations.

Main Results:

  • Spinal anesthesia is preferred for cesarean sections but carries risks.
  • Essential elements for safe practice include skilled personnel, monitors, drugs, and protocols.
  • Challenges in equipment and drug procurement are significant barriers.

Conclusions:

  • Close collaboration and adherence to minimum standards are crucial for safe obstetric anesthesia.
  • Addressing resource limitations through outreach and education can improve outcomes.
  • Standardized protocols are necessary for labor analgesia, cesarean anesthesia, and emergency care.