Definition

Noun A medical procedure involving the injection of a local anesthetic agent into the tissues on either side of the uterine cervix to achieve regional anesthesia.

Usage

This term is used specifically in the context of obstetrics and pain management. It describes a technique for providing pain relief during certain stages of labor and childbirth by blocking nerve impulses from the cervix and lower uterus.

Examples

• The obstetrician administered a paracervical block to alleviate the patient's pain during the first stage of labor.
• A paracervical block can provide effective analgesia for procedures like cervical dilation.
• The use of a paracervical block is one method of regional anesthesia available during childbirth.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often discussed in comparative studies of obstetric analgesia, evaluating its efficacy and safety profile against other methods like epidural or pudendal blocks.
• It may be referenced in clinical guidelines concerning pain management options for parturients.

Variants and Related Words

• Paracervical anesthesia: A synonymous term often used interchangeably with "paracervical block."
• Cervical block: A less specific, informal term that may refer to this procedure.

Synonyms

• Paracervical anesthesia
• Cervical plexus block (Note: This is a more precise anatomical term for the same regional technique.)

Notes on Meaning

The procedure is defined by its anatomical target (the paracervical region) and its purpose (nerve block for anesthesia). It is a specific type of regional anesthetic block and is not used for surgical anesthesia for other procedures.

Noun

1. regional anesthesia resulting from the injection of a local anesthetic on each side of the cervix; used during labor and childbirth