EPIDURAL ANESTHESIA

Definition

Epidural anesthesia consists in the introduction of a local anesthetic in the spinal canal or spinal column, outside the meninges and the medulla. In this way the nervous transmission of the painful sensation is interrupted. To perform the anesthesia, a puncture is performed on the back at the lumbar level with a very fine needle and a local anesthetic is infiltrated. Once the skin is anesthetized, a larger needle is inserted and through this a thin tube or catheter is placed in the spinal canal outside the meninges. Through this catheter, the local anesthetic that produces analgesia or anesthesia is administered, depending on the dose administered. This same catheter is used to administer anesthesia if the delivery does not evolve and it is necessary to perform a cesarean section. The anesthetic does not take effect immediately, but gradually, because the medication has to enter the nerves. The decrease in pain will be noticed between 10 and 20 minutes.