The most common complication after spinal anesthesia
Disease description:
Many mothers experience back pain after receiving an epidural injection. Is this true? I am also approaching my due date and would like to know what the most common side effects are after having an epidural.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Chen Jian
Spinal anesthesia, also known as subarachnoid block, is a type of anesthesia involving the injection of local anesthetic drugs around the spinal cord in the lower back. It is primarily used for pain control during surgeries involving the lower body or during childbirth. The most common complications following spinal anesthesia include the following:
1. Headache: This is the most common complication after spinal anesthesia, often referred to as "post-spinal headache." This type of headache typically begins 24 to 72 hours after anesthesia and may last for several days to a week. It is associated with decreased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure, which can occur when the spinal needle punctures the dura mater, potentially causing leakage of CSF and resulting in headache.
2. Urinary retention: Spinal anesthesia can block the parasympathetic nerve fibers that control the bladder, leading to weakened bladder contraction and resulting in urinary retention.
3. Back pain: Although spinal anesthesia itself does not directly cause long-term back pain, some patients may experience temporary back pain after surgery, which may be related to an inflammatory response at the puncture site.
4. Nausea and vomiting: Anesthetic drugs and the surgery itself can cause nausea and vomiting, especially in the early postoperative period.
5. Hypotension: Spinal anesthesia may temporarily lower blood pressure because the anesthetic drugs affect the body's autonomic nervous system, leading to vasodilation and reduced cardiac output.
