Definition

1. Noun:
   • A type of regional anesthesia: A "spinal anesthetic" is a drug that causes a temporary loss of feeling and movement in the lower part of the body. It is administered by injecting it into the fluid-filled space surrounding the spinal cord in the lower back.

Usage

• A "spinal anesthetic" is used to block pain for surgical procedures below the waist, such as cesarean sections, hip replacements, or prostate surgeries.
• It is administered by a specialist (an anesthesiologist) in a controlled medical setting.
• The term is often used in medical discussions, patient consent forms, and surgical plans.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The patient received a spinal anesthetic for the knee surgery.
  • A spinal anesthetic allows the patient to be awake during the operation but free from pain.
  • The effects of the spinal anesthetic wore off a few hours after the procedure.

Advanced Usage

• "Spinal anesthetic" vs. "Epidural anesthetic": While both are injections in the back for pain relief, a spinal anesthetic is injected deeper, into the cerebrospinal fluid, for a more complete and faster-onset block, typically for surgery. An epidural is often used for longer-term pain management, such as during childbirth.
  • For the C-section, the doctor recommended a spinal anesthetic rather than an epidural.

Variants and Related Words

• Spinal anesthesia (n): The medical technique or state of insensibility produced by a spinal anesthetic.
  • The surgery was performed under spinal anesthesia.
• Spinal block (n): A common informal term for the effect of a spinal anesthetic.
  • The spinal block was very effective.

Synonyms

• Intrathecal anesthetic: A more technical term specifying the injection into the intrathecal space (the fluid-filled canal surrounding the spinal cord).

Noun

1. an anesthetic that is injected into the spine