Category: Anesthesiology

The failure rate of spinal anesthesia can be as high as 17% [1.6.5]. Understanding **what precautions should be taken during spinal anesthesia** is crucial for patient safety, involving meticulous steps before, during, and after the procedure to mitigate risks and ensure effective outcomes.

Yes, a spinal can make your blood pressure drop, with some studies reporting an incidence of hypotension as high as 100% in certain patient groups if not proactively managed. This anticipated and common side effect is medically termed "spinal-induced hypotension," and anesthesiologists are well-equipped to manage it to ensure patient safety.

Intraoperative hypotension (IOH), defined in many settings as a mean arterial pressure (MAP) below 65 mmHg, is a common occurrence affecting a significant number of surgical patients. Timely and appropriate treatment is vital, as untreated IOH is strongly linked to a higher risk of postoperative complications, including acute kidney injury and myocardial injury. Understanding **How is hypotension treated during surgery?** is a cornerstone of modern anesthetic management aimed at maximizing patient safety.

For over half a century, controlled hypotension has been utilized in surgical settings to intentionally reduce a patient's blood pressure to achieve specific therapeutic purposes. This technique helps to limit blood loss, decrease the need for transfusions, and provide a clearer, less obstructed surgical field for surgeons.

Effective postoperative pain management is crucial for patient recovery after foot and ankle surgery. When considering what drug is in a popliteal block, the selection involves specific local anesthetics and possible additives tailored to the patient and procedure's needs.

Over 70% of patients undergoing orthopedic upper limb surgery report moderate to high postoperative pain, a challenge that different anesthesia methods address in unique ways [1.2.5]. Fundamentally, **is a nerve block considered general anesthesia?** No, they are distinct forms of anesthesia [1.2.1].

Of all local anesthetics, bupivacaine is associated with the highest incidence of cardiac toxicity and is among the most challenging to treat in cases of systemic toxicity [1.2.1, 1.2.3, 1.2.6]. This article explores which local anesthetic drug has the highest cardiotoxicity and why.

Pharmacological studies and clinical evidence consistently demonstrate that bupivacaine is significantly more cardiotoxic than lidocaine, with its higher potency and different binding kinetics on cardiac sodium channels contributing to its increased risk. The distinction between these two commonly used local anesthetics is critical for anesthesiologists and other healthcare providers to manage local anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST) effectively.

With the notable exception of cocaine, virtually all local anesthetic agents used in clinical practice are vasodilators [1.6.9]. This property significantly impacts their duration of action and systemic absorption. Understanding this spectrum is key, but which local anesthetic is the least vasodilating?

Each year, millions of people in the United States undergo noncardiac surgery, with about one-third having existing cardiac disease or major risk factors [1.6.5]. A common fear is, **does your heart stop beating under general anesthesia?** The answer is no, your heart continues to beat throughout the procedure [1.2.3].