What kind of anaesethesia is given for lower leg surgery?

Question

My friend who had an operation to put in a rod to help heal a bone fracture in lower leg --- fibula and tibia --- is supposed to have been given a general anaesthesia mixed in food, as I heard from someone. I need to know what kind of general anaesthesia would this be? He said the doctor kept slapping him to wake him up saying the surgery is over.

Is this anaesthesia enough to put in a rod or would he also have received local anaesthesia? below his waist for the entire lower body or only down the knee on which the operation was held?

Where is the anaesthesia for below the waist given?

With general anaes. would he be reuired to receive catheterisation for unrination? with anaesthesia below the waist?

Answer 1

I've never given anesthetic medications in food. In fact, we try to have the patient come to the OR with an empty stomach to minimize the risk of vomiting / aspirating food into their lungs.

There are 3 main kinds of anesthetic which would work for this kind of surgery.

1. General anesthesia. By a combination of drugs, the patient is rendered unconscious and does not respond to painful stimulation (i.e. surgery). It's essentially a reversible coma.

2. Regional anesthesia. This technique uses knowledge of nerve anatomy to place local anesthetic near the nerves supplying sensation to a given area. In this case, I would inject local anesthetic near the sciatic and femoral nerves above the knee. This would render the lower leg completely numb. Sedation can then be given to let the patient sleep during the procedure. The lingering numbness from the nerve blocks provides pain relief after the surgery, allowing you to wake up much more comfortably.

3. Neuraxial anesthesia. Most commonly, a spinal anesthetic is given. This involves numbing a spot of skin in the lower back and placing a very thin needle into the spinal canal (far below where the spinal cord ends) and injecting local anesthetic. It will numb both legs and the lower abdomen for a couple hours. Again, sedation can be given during the surgery.

Nowadays, all 3 options are extremely safe. The choice depends on the skill of the anesthesiologist and the preferences of the patient.

As for the catheter, it might not be necessary for the regional anesthesia technique.

Answer 2

first Gen anaesthesia or any other is not given mixed in food. Be4 any anasth. pt is required to be empty stomach atleast 6-8 hrs. For orthopedics leg surgery an epidural aneasth. which is given by a lumber puncture neddle in spinal canla is prefereed with some short acting sedatives if pt. is anxious.

Answer 3

I would say general because it would be a major surgery. My DH had a total hip replacement due to a snow tube ride and hit a tree.But before the hip replacement they put rods and pins to hold the leg in place. Months down the road, the pins did more damage than good. Then came the hip replacement.

Answer 4

I've NEVER heard of this. I would have thought he would have gotten an epidural and that would have been enough, no need for a local anaesthesia.