Preparing for Anesthesia Using Intrathecal Injection
Before surgery, your child will get a type of anesthesia called an intrathecal injection. The anesthesia doctor will give the injection in your child's back. The medicine goes into the spinal fluid and will numb only the area being operated on.
Why Do Doctors Choose Intrathecal Injection?
Doctors choose intrathecal anesthesia because kids who get it:
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won't get general anesthesia. During surgery, kids can breathe on their own.
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won't get nausea, vomiting, or constipation. That's because they won't need strong medicines like narcotics during the surgery.
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continue to have a normal blood pressure and heartbeat after surgery
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have a faster recovery time after surgery
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will be awake and ready to eat when they get to the recovery area
Who Can Have an Intrathecal Injection?
This type of anesthesia is ideal for patients of all ages who have short procedures (around 1–1.5 hours) that involve the abdomen and legs.
But some kids can't have intrathecal injections, such as those:
What Are the Risks of Intrathecal Injection?
All types of anesthesia come with some risks. Your health care team will talk to you about these. The risks of intrathecal injection include:
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not enough pain relief: If the doctor thinks your child will need more pain relief, they may give another type of anesthesia.
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bleeding or infection at the site of the injection: If bleeding happens, the doctor will put pressure on the skin to stop it. To prevent infection, doctors clean the skin carefully before the needle is placed.
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a headache after surgery that is worse with standing or sitting and improved with lying down
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injury to surrounding nerves, but this is very rare
What Can I Expect After Surgery?
Your child:
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may have some numbness in the legs at first, but this will go away quickly
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will wake up quickly and be eager to drink. Fussiness after the surgery may mean your child wants to eat or be comforted.
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should be able to urinate (pee) normally soon after the procedure