Regional anaesthesia
Regional anaesthesia numbs a specific part of the body by injecting a local anaesthetic near the nerves.
This is usually done under general anaesthetic for pain relief both during and after a medical procedure like surgery.
Types of regional anaesthesia
Epidural
An epidural is an injection near the spine, after which a small tube (called a catheter) is placed in the same space and the needle is removed. The tube stays in place so local anaesthetic medicine can numb the nerves of the spine.
Epidurals are usually used for bigger operations and tend to stay in place for around three days. They are used very commonly in children and are safe and very effective forms of pain relief.
Caudal
A caudal is very similar to an epidural. The injection is at the base of the spine, and a single injection of local anaesthetic is used. Catheters are not usually left in place. The caudal usually last around 6 to 8 hours.
Nerve block
Nerve blocks are an injection of local anaesthetic around a specific nerve/s to numb a part of the body.
Most anaesthetists will use ultrasound or a special nerve stimulator to find the nerve.
Nerve blocks are used commonly for leg, arm or penis surgery and usually last 6 to 12 hours.
Local anaesthetic infiltration
Local anaesthetic infiltration is when a surgeon injects local anaesthetic into the wound at the end of the operation to numb the area.
This numbness lasts 2 to 4 hours.