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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...
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...
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: Differential Sensitivity of Nerve Fibers01:24

Local Anesthetics: Differential Sensitivity of Nerve Fibers

Local anesthetics (LAs) block the sodium channels of nerve trunks, sensory nerve endings, and neuromuscular junctions. Although LAs can block all kinds of nerves, the sensitivity of nerve fibers differs according to nerve types and structures. LAs are known to block myelinated fibers faster than unmyelinated ones. Also, they block pain or sensory neurons at low concentrations without affecting the motor neurons involved in muscle contractions. This helps relieve labor pain without affecting the...
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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The anesthetic approach to repeated cesarean sections: A prospective cohort study.

European journal of obstetrics & gynecology and reproductive biology: X·2024
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American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine expert panel recommendations on point-of-care ultrasound education and training for regional anesthesiologists and pain physicians-part II: recommendations.

Regional anesthesia and pain medicine·2021
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American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine expert panel recommendations on point-of-care ultrasound education and training for regional anesthesiologists and pain physicians-part I: clinical indications.

Regional anesthesia and pain medicine·2021
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Correction to: Transversus abdominis plane block compared with wound infiltration for postoperative analgesia following Cesarean delivery: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthesie·2020
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Labor neuraxial analgesia and breastfeeding: An updated systematic review.

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Transversus abdominis plane block compared with wound infiltration for postoperative analgesia following Cesarean delivery: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 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

Epidural analgesia for labor: Current techniques.

Marcos Silva1, Stephen H Halpern

  • 1Department of Anesthesia, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.

Local and Regional Anesthesia
|November 13, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Epidural analgesia effectively manages labor pain with minimal impact on labor progress or newborns. Patient-controlled epidural analgesia enhances satisfaction and has a low incidence of side effects.

Keywords:
analgesiachildbirthepidurallaborlocal anesthesiaspinal

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 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

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Anesthesiology
  • Pain Management

Background:

  • Epidural analgesia is a widely adopted method for managing labor pain.
  • Continuous advancements have refined epidural techniques and medication protocols.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the historical development and current practices of epidural analgesia in labor.
  • To outline treatment goals and methods for effective labor pain management.

Main Methods:

  • Review of historical data and current literature on epidural analgesia.
  • Analysis of treatment goals, including medication strategies and patient control.

Main Results:

  • Low concentrations of local anesthetics combined with lipid-soluble opioids are effective.
  • This approach does not impede labor progression or cause newborn depression.
  • The incidence of adverse effects is low, and patient-controlled analgesia improves satisfaction.

Conclusions:

  • Modern epidural analgesia is a safe and effective method for labor pain relief.
  • Optimized medication regimens and patient control contribute to positive outcomes.
  • Epidural analgesia remains a cornerstone of modern obstetric pain management.