What is spinal anesthesia?

In the case of WAL liposuction of the lower limbs, you can choose between general anaesthesia or spinal anaesthesia. In this article, we’ll take a look at the latter.

Spinal anesthesia

1. This is a locoregional anesthesia (selective local anesthesia involving a limb segment, a limb or an entire body region) like the epidural performed before childbirth.

A local anesthetic (medication) is injected through a needle into the lower part of the spinal column, into what is known as the cerebrospinal fluid.

Please note that the skin itself will have been anesthetized beforehand, to avoid any pain. This results in a particularly effective anaesthesia of the lower limbs, numbing all the nerves in the part of the body concerned (in this case, the pelvis and legs).

2. The anaesthetist welcomes you on arrival in the operating room and will accompany you throughout the procedure, monitoring your vitals.

If spinal anaesthesia is insufficient, the anaesthetist can adjust sedation doses for your comfort.

3. This injection is performed by the anaesthetist and is tailored to your case (weight, length of operation).

4. The duration of action of this anesthetic is usually 3 hours.
   
5. You are neither asleep nor intubated, breathing on your own without a respirator.
   
6. At first, you’ll feel a tingling sensation, then a heaviness in the area where the injection was made, and then you’ll feel nothing: no pain, no discomfort, no pressure.
   
7. An intravenous infusion of sedatives will be given to allow you to relax completely during the operation.
   
8. You’ll be able to listen to quiet music with your headphones, doze off naturally or even ask questions if you wish: feel free to report any discomfort (nausea, unpleasant sensations…).
   
9. An operating field (i.e. a sterile, non-woven sheet of tissue) will isolate you from the surgeons: you won’t see a thing.
   
10. At the end of the operation, you’ll find yourself in the recovery room.
    

The effects of the spinal anaesthesia will gradually wear off, and you’ll be able to move your legs and slowly regain feeling.

At the end of the day, you can go straight home and walk as normal.

There are a few contraindications to this form of anesthesia, for example: coagulation disorders or skin infection in the lower back.

You also have the right to refuse this form of anaesthesia, in which case you can discuss other options with the anaesthetist.