Podcasts Health Straight Talk MD On Pins and Needles

On Pins and Needles

Published: Feb. 17, 2020, 9:31 a.m.

The most cynical surgeons like to say that anesthesiology is ninety-nine percent boredom and one-percent sheer terror. Strange Daze is about the one percent.

The \u201cone percent\u201d can occur with any type of anesthesia, not just general anesthesia, which brings us to today\u2019s episode: \u201cOn Pins and Needles.\u201d

Spinal anesthesia is still a popular alternative to general technique for certain types of surgery, but every anesthetic technique has its limitations, including spinal anesthesia.

In today\u2019s episode, our narrator learns the limitations of spinal anesthesia in his first year of anesthesia residency when assigned to the orthopedic \u201ctotal joint\u201d room.

In the hands of a master, spinal anesthesia is a beautiful and elegant alternative to general anesthesia. In the hands of an inexperienced anesthesia resident, spinal anesthesia can suddenly and unexpectedly devolve into the \u201cone percent\u201d.

You may be wondering how spinal anesthesia can go so wrong. Truth be told, in about a million and a half different ways\u2026 Tune in and you\u2019ll find out how\u2026