Definition

1. Noun:
   • A medical procedure inducing loss of sensation: "Spinal anaesthesia" is a type of regional anaesthesia that numbs the lower half of the body. It is achieved by injecting an anaesthetic drug into the cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the spinal cord, specifically in the subarachnoid space.

Usage

• Noun:
  • Spinal anaesthesia is commonly used for surgeries on the lower abdomen, hips, or legs.
  • The patient opted for spinal anaesthesia instead of general anaesthesia for the knee replacement.

Advanced Usage

• Technical Context: In medical literature, "spinal anaesthesia" is distinguished from "epidural anaesthesia" by the specific anatomical location of the drug injection (subarachnoid vs. epidural space).
  • The study compared the hemodynamic effects of spinal anaesthesia versus epidural anaesthesia.

Variants and Related Words

• Spinal anesthesia (noun): The American English spelling variant.
• Spinal block (noun): A common informal synonym used by medical professionals.
• Subarachnoid block (noun): A more precise technical term referring to the same procedure.

Synonyms

• Spinal block: A regional anaesthetic block.
• Intrathecal anaesthesia: Anaesthesia administered within the spinal canal's thecal sac.

Related Phrases

• To administer spinal anaesthesia: To perform the procedure.
  • The anaesthesiologist will administer spinal anaesthesia before the surgery begins.
• Under spinal anaesthesia: Describing the patient's state during the procedure.
  • The operation was performed while the patient was under spinal anaesthesia.

Noun

1. anesthesia of the lower half of the body; caused by injury to the spinal cord or by injecting an anesthetic beneath the arachnoid membrane that surrounds the spinal cord