Intravenous Regional Anesthesia

What is Anesthesia?

Anesthesia (an-iss-thee-zuh) is medicine to make you comfortable during surgery or a procedure. There are many types of anesthesia. The anesthesia medicine may be given in your IV, through a face mask, or through a tube in your nose or throat. It can also be given as a shot in your back or as a shot in the area where you will have surgery. The type of anesthesia you may have depends on the type of surgery you are having. You and your caregiver have decided that an intravenous regional anesthesia is best for you.

What is Intravenous (IV) Regional Anesthesia?

With IV regional anesthesia, just your arm or leg will be numb during surgery. IV regional anesthesia can be used for many kinds of surgeries or procedures on your arm or leg. Tell your anesthesia caregiver if you or anyone in your family has ever had any problems with anesthesia. Remember to tell your anesthesia caregiver if you have ever had a very high temperature during or after surgery.

Care:

Before the surgery or procedure, you may be given medicine in your IV to make you feel sleepy and more relaxed. Caregivers help you get comfortable on the operating room bed. Anesthesia caregivers use machines to see how your body is doing.

• Pulse oximeter: A pulse oximeter is a device that measures the amount of oxygen in your blood. A cord with a clip or sticky strip is placed on your finger, ear, or toe. The other end of the cord is hooked to a machine. Never turn the pulse oximeter or alarm off. An alarm will sound if your oxygen level is low or cannot be read.
  
  
• Vital signs: Caregivers will check your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and temperature. They will also ask about your pain. These vital signs give caregivers information about your current health.
  
  
• Getting Intravenous (IV) Regional Anesthesia: An IV catheter is put into a vein in your lower arm or leg. A tourniquet (turn-ih-ket) is put on your upper arm or leg. A stretchy elastic band is wrapped tightly around your arm or leg to squeeze out as much blood as possible. The tourniquet is tightened and the elastic band is removed. Medicine is put into the IV. The tourniquet is kept tight so that the numbing medicine stays in your arm or leg. This keeps you from feeling pain during surgery. Caregivers will not start surgery until you are numb. Feeling will return to your arm or leg when the tourniquet is taken off.
  
  
• After Getting Anesthesia: After surgery you are taken to a room where you can rest until the numbness goes away. You may then be allowed to go home. If you are staying in the hospital you may be taken back to your room. Someone should drive you home if you were given medicine to make you sleepy during surgery. Do not drive home alone. An adult should stay with you for at least 24 hours after surgery if you had medicine to make you sleepy.

Informed Consent:

• You have the right to understand your health condition in words that you know. You should be told what tests, treatments, or procedures may be done to treat your condition. You caregiver should also tell you about the risks and benefits of each treatment. You may be asked to sign a consent form that gives caregivers permission to do certain tests, treatments or procedures. If you are unable to give your consent, someone who has permission can sign this form for you. A consent form is a legal piece of paper that tells exactly what will be done to you. This consent also gives permission for anesthesia. Before giving your consent, make sure all your questions have been answered so that you understand what may happen
  
  

Risks:

The following are risks that may happen with IV regional anesthesia. Caregivers will watch you closely and treat any problems. Call your caregiver if you are worried or have questions about your care.

• You could have a bad reaction to the medicine.
  
  
• You could feel nauseated (sick to your stomach) during or after surgery.
  
  
• It may take awhile for the medicine to wear off before you can feel and move normally.
  
  
• You could have a seizure or heart attack.
  
  
• Your thinking may be unclear. Do not make important decisions for 24 hours after having intravenous (IV) regional anesthesia.

Care Agreement

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.