Anesthesia for Cerclage
- Single shot spinals (SSS) are the most common anesthetic for a cerclage.
- The process of a spinal anesthetic is as follows:
- Intravenous (IV) access is obtained and a blood sample may be drawn.
- IV fluids are administered prior to or during the procedure to help keep you hydrated and your blood pressures stable. Monitors for your blood pressure, heart rate, heart rhythm, and oxygen levels are placed.
- You are placed in the optimal position (either sitting up-right or laying on your side) to ease the placement of the spinal injection. Your back is cleaned with a cold, wet soap to sterilize the skin.
- Numbing medicine is placed in the skin.
- After the numbing medicine, you may feel pressure or cramping as the anesthesiologist is getting to the correct location for the spinal.
- Medication is then injected that starts to make you feel numb from the waist down to your toes.
- Sensations such as warmth, numbness, and weakness are expected and means the spinal medicine is working.
- Your perception of cold temperature and/or pinprick sensation will be tested prior to beginning the cerclage placement.
- You may still have sensation of touch and pressure during the procedure, but you will not feel anything sharp. If you do feel sharp pain, communicate with your anesthesiologist who will be with you during the procedure. - Patients are awake during the procedure.
- If for some reason the patient cannot tolerate the procedure with only spinal anesthetic, sedation or general anesthesia will be administered.
- After the cerclage placement, the patient will spend time in a recovery room for a period to allow for the spinal to wear off and to make sure pain and nausea are controlled before going home.