When you need surgery, your doctor will likely give you either an epidural or a spinal block to help you through the procedure. But what’s the difference between these two types of anesthesia? Here’s what you need to know.
What is Epidural Block?
An epidural block is a medical procedure that is used to provide anesthesia or pain relief. It involves injecting a local anesthetic into the epidural space, which is the area around the spinal cord. Epidural block can be used for a variety of purposes, including pain relief during labor and delivery, pain relief after surgery, and treatment of certain types of chronic pain. The effects of epidural block typically last for several hours, and the procedure is generally safe when performed by a trained professional.
What is Spinal Block?
Spinal block is an anesthesia technique. It involves injecting a local anesthetic into the space around the spinal cord to numb the nerves and provide pain relief. Spinal block can be used for surgery, childbirth, and other medical procedures. The effects of a spinal block typically last for 2 to 3 hours. Spinal block is generally considered safe, but there are some risks and side effects associated with the procedure. These include headaches, dizziness, nausea, and temporary paralysis. Spinal block is a type of regional anesthesia that can provide significant pain relief with a lower risk of side effects than general anesthesia.
Differences between An Epidural and a Spinal Block
An epidural is regional anesthesia that numbs a specific area of the body. Anesthesiologists insert a small, thin tube called an epidural catheter through a needle into the space outside the spinal cord but inside the protective sac that surrounds it. This allows them to continuously bathe the affected nerves with numbing medication. A spinal block is another type of regional anesthesia that numbs a specific area of the body.
Anesthesiologists insert a small needle into the space outside the spinal cord and inject a numbing medication into it. This medication quickly diffuses throughout the fluid-filled space around the spinal cord, providing widespread numbness. The main difference between an epidural and a spinal block is that an epidural provides continuous numbness while a spinal block provides only temporary numbness. In addition, an epidural typically takes longer to place than a spinal block and may be more expensive.
Conclusion
While both epidurals and spinal blocks are used to numb the lower half of the body, there are some key differences between the two. An epidural is a local anesthetic that is injected into the space around the spinal cord, while a spinal block is a general anesthetic that numbs all of the nerves in the spine. Epidurals have been shown to be more effective for pain relief during labor, while spinal blocks are often used for cesarean deliveries or other surgeries. If you’re considering having surgery and need anesthesia, talk to your doctor about which type of block would be best for you.
